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Berdych KO’s Djokovic…Think He’s Finally Ready To Go All The Way?
9 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
So Berdych takes out Djokovic in three sets. Didn’t see that upset coming.
Berdych might be ready to bust his way into the elite after so many years of hanging around the fringe, and coming up short to Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic so many times.
Berdych has beaten Federer the last two times they played, at the US Open and in Dubai earlier this year, both were hard-fought tight finishes where Berdych emerged victories.
Winning these close matches at the wire can change the psyche of a player, just like it did for Djokovic when he beat Nadal in the Miami final 7-6 in the third set breaker, after failing so many times in close matches to the Spaniard.
This win over Djokovic is one of the best of Berdych’s career.
He is clearly a big match player, as he told me for my “Facing Federer” book: “I said that many times, for me it’s kind of a final of the tournament, you know, or celebration of tennis, I would say, because it’s always great to be with him (Roger) on the court, you know, with the results that he achieved and what a star he is. It’s every single time for me, you know, ‘the’ match, you know, to be ready and to be really focused on. So, yeah, I like those matches so much. I would like to play with those guys every time.”
T-Berd loves to compete against the best
9 comments
<< Paire’s Chances Vs. Fed Are Slim To None And Slim Is Out Of Town
Scoop Malinowski · May 17, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Or is he Soderling II, great power player who will always fall short of the big prize?
Amanda · May 17, 2013 at 2:23 pm
So great to see Tomas win this one Scoop! Rarely does he manage to be strong enough mentally to come back like that. I think he has a good chance against Rafa, who is bound to be worn out from two tough matches back to back.
Scoop Malinowski · May 17, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Amanda, True, but Berd does it on occasion. He beat Fed in 2004 Olympics 46 75 75, huge win and that was the first time he ever played Federer. Berdych has been better this year, I saw him just pulverize Querrey in Miami like 62 62, just a total blowout and Sam wasn’t playing bad. After seeing that match we all said Berd looks ready to do something big. After what he did to Djokovic, that monster win might be coming soon. Rafa tired? Heck, matches like he just eked out seem to make him stronger for the next match somehow )
Steve · May 17, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Rafa must be tired. Seven finals already this year of which he’s won five. Both he and Birdman have had tough draws. Will be interesting.
Djokovic is human again. Hopefully he can relax and let his game flow naturally.
Obviously it’s impossible for Fed to fly under the radar but this is as close as it will ever get.
Scoop Malinowski · May 17, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Rafa is not tired he is never tired, I was told by a source he sleeps one night a week, the other six nights he plays video games )
Steve · May 17, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Federer is looking great. Not just the spiffy new hair cut either. Back in the days he dominated Hewitt, Safin, Coria, Henman and Roddick and now he outclasses an up & coming tennis beast years later. Just truly amazing.
Rafa sleeps one night a week? This is crazy, no?
Scoop Malinowski · May 17, 2013 at 7:05 pm
I like Fed’s new doo, shortest it’s ever been. That was a joke a bout Nadal Steve, no )
Andrew Miller · May 19, 2013 at 7:46 am
Berdych needs luck to win a slam (I mean major luck – like no Nadal in his path). I see Berdych and Tsonga as closest to slam wins outside the top 4, but Berdych moreso as he’s more durable. He has the stamina to win a slam, Tsonga the emotion. It’s almost as if you should substitute both players for one another during a slam match to beat the contenders.
Scoop Malinowski · May 19, 2013 at 8:37 am
Like a tag team Andrew, good idea. They are both like Soderling, they can make finals but in the final with all the pressure of being in the final those big shots are going to go astray on the big points. Unless these guys can summon their inner Safin and just play lights out perfect tennis like Safin did vs. Sampras, in a final. Just hard to see Berdych or Tsonga going all the way though it would be very nice to see it happen.