Biofile with Tomas Berdych

Status: ATP #17 ranked player will play Youzhny at Roland Garros quarterfinals. His only previous Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance was at 2007 Wimbledon. Engaged to WTA pro Lucie Safarova.

Ht: 6-5 Wt: 200

DOB: September 17, 1985 in Valasske Mezirici, Czech Republic

Tennis Heroes/Inspirations: “If I have some heroes in tennis? No I don’t have any heroes, not in tennis, not in other kind of sports, nothing. I’m trying to play and be myself.”

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Yeah, of course my hobbies — if you are in pro tennis you don’t have much more time. So if it’s chance to go watch some good films, cinema, listening to some music. And I think for a tennis player the best is relaxing.”

Early Tennis Memory: “My father (Martin) told me when I was starting to play tennis I was always hitting the ball — not ever in the court [smiles]. But I hit the ball with the racquet not missing the ball. (At least) no missing the ball.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Whew. I’m trying to concentrate for my match and feeling — sometimes I’m nervous, sometimes not, depends on which kind of match is it. So some special feeling? No I don’t have it.”

Favorite Meal: “I like a lot of different meals. But favorite…let’s say chicken and some because for tennis you can eat some.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Chocolate.”

Favorite Movies: “I like the English name — three movies Lord Of The Rings. They were amazing, it was unbelievable.”

Musical Tastes: “I like a lot of the performers like Metallica, U2 and the style like this, not techno.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Win in Paris Bercy (defeated Ljubicic in five sets in 2005). And of course beat Roger Federer at Olympic Games (2004).”

Most Painful Moment: “I don’t like to lose any match. So every match that I lose is painful.”

Favorite Tournament(s): “Outside the Grand Slams? Dubai. It’s a beautiful place. Something different. And it’s nice.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “Of course your kind of friend is you coach because you are spending a lot of time with your coach. And I think a lot of players in the tennis, you’re friends with everybody. But closest friend — I don’t have only one friend. But I have a lot of friends with the Czech.”

Funniest Player Encountered: “I don’t know. I don’t have any special just one who is the most funny.”

Toughest Competitors: “I have to say Roger. Of course the toughest match was with Roger in Australia because he’s the top player of the world and it was the toughest match for me, for this time.”

Favorite Vacation Spot: “I haven’t been there but I would like to go to Bora Bora.”

On Win Over Federer In Miami 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(6): “The match like this, to beat the No. 1 player in the world, the best player so far, you know, it’s great feeling, you know, just to go through. But still, it was not a final. There is another match waiting next day, another really tough opponent…I need to take all the positive things, all the confidence from this match and just go next for next match. Be ready for the other one. Then we can be let’s say talking it was good tournament with couple of good wins or something like that. But so far, yeah, extremely happy after that match. But I’m looking forward to next matches.””The last match before this one we played in Australia I was two sets up, so, you know, if we gonna play for just best of three sets, then I would win the match again. But that one was different, you know, best of five sets and at the Grand Slam. So, you know, he came strongly back and won that match, and he deserved it and played well. This one was another chance. I was trying to just go for it same as the match in Melbourne, and finally it happened.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People has to be funny, fair and not be (like), Okay, you are good, good. And he goes to somebody else and says, Oh, he’s bad. And like this.”

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