Tomas Berdych

Excerpt:

ATP Makes An Embarrassing Mistake In Determining Qualifier Of Championship

So keen to broadcast the fact, the ATP actually alerted Berdych as he prepared to get back to winning ways at Bercy. “It feels great to qualify for the second consecutive year,” he said. It was one of my goals at the beginning of 2011 and my results have been very consistent this season. I have great memories of The O2, the event was amazing last year and I hope I will do better this time.”

Just over five hours later, clearly after some considerable embarrassment, the ATP once again announced they had got their math wrong and a correction was formally released that Berdych was still not technically secure in the final eight.

“We apologize that an error was made in the projected qualification of Tomas Berdych, and that he has not yet officially secured his place in the Top 8 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals,” said the new statement. Not surprisingly Berdych was not asked to comment on this occasion.

So together with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mardy Fish, Nicolas Almagro, Del Potro, Janko Tipsarevic, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils, Berdych will do his best this week at Bercy.

Berdych pulling out of the tourney in Kuala Lumpur
“I am really sorry I cannot make it to Kuala Lumpur this year. I have had some good results there before and I really like the city and the people,” he said. “I was always made to feel very welcome with the warm hospitality. The stadium is really nice to play in and the court surface is great for my game.
“I was really looking forward to being there again but my shoulder is still troubling me. I was able to play one singles in Davis Cup but it has flared up again and I need to rest it a few more days. I hope I can try and come back next year.”
http://tinyurl.com/3ds97wv

Tomas Berdych also pulled out of Barcelona with a stomach virus.

World No. 7 Tomas Berdych rounded out the day’s action as he ended the run of Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the third round in Monte-Carlo for the third time in six visits. The Czech player, who advanced to the semi-finals (l. to Nadal) in 2007, saved six of the seven break points he faced and broke serve four times from 11 opportunities to seal victory in one hour and 46 minutes.

The 25-year-old Berdych has made a strong start to the 2011 ATP World Tour season, reaching the quarter-finals or better in six of his seven events played. He made his Grand Slam breakthrough on clay last year when he reached the Roland Garros semi-finals (l. to Soderling), before a month later finishing runner-up at Wimbledon (l. to Nadal).

Monaco resident Tomas Berdych sailed on board the famous TUIGA classic yacht on Saturday ahead of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. The Czech was welcomed by the General Secretary Bernard D’Alessandri.

Saturday marked the first day of training for the crew of TUIGA, the Admiral Vessel of the Yacht Club de Monaco, as it prepares for the 2011 Regatta season, which is highlighted by the Monaco Classic Week from 14-18 September.

“It was one of the nicest tournament activities I've ever done,” declared Berdych. “The boat is amazing; it was my first time sailing. The view of Monaco was amazing and the whole crew of TUIGA was so friendly. I look forward to sailing again as the (Monaco) Yacht Club has invited me back.”

The Czech player is seeded fifth at next week’s Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, the first event of the European clay-court swing. He will open his campaign at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament against either a qualifier or Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.

Berdych got a WC for Monte Carlo. I hope that's not april fool.

http://www.nicematin.com/article/derniere-minute/tennis-murray-et-berdych-a-monte-carlo

The runner-up here in 2010, the 25 year old from the Czech Republic has reached the quarter-finals or better at three of the four majors, won five titles, including the 2005 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Paris, and qualified into the Barclays World Tour Finals last year for the first time.

We caught up with Berdych after he defeated Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 7-6(8), 6-3 in the third round of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Your run to the finals here last year jumpstarted a great run of results, highlighted by your first major final appearance at Wimbledon and a semi-final showing at Roland Garros. How important was this tournament and what did it do for your confidence?
TB: Of course it was definitely a key tournament for me last season. I also did well at Indian Wells. The match against Roger when I was down match -point was one of the best wins of my career. It helped my confidence for sure. But it’s not all about one match, one tournament. You have to keep playing well and believing in yourself.

What did you enjoy most about playing at Crandon Park, here in Miami?
TB: It’s a special place… very appealing. I like coming here this time of year. It’s hot, but not like the summers they get. It’s good weather for tennis. I wish I had more free time in between matches and training as there are so many things to do, but I’m always busy on the courts.

I like going to [Miami] Heat games and I’m a huge fan of the NHL. The Florida Panthers aren’t too far away, so I try and go to their games when I get the opportunity.

Can you talk about balancing a professional tennis career with your personal life? Your fiancée Lucie is also a successful tennis player. Does it help that you’re both in the same career, striving for similar goals?
TB: I would say so. It’s worked for quite a long time now. I think it can be an advantage for both of us, especially with all the requirements tennis players have, with travel, tournaments, always preparing for what’s next. It’s nice to have someone who knows what I’m feeling, particularly after a loss. She knows what I’m going through, whereas other player’s spouses and girlfriends may not understand as well. It helps that we always know what to say and do for each other.

The Last Time You...
Tried Something New: Ooh, that’s a good one. Let me think… oh, when I swam with the dolphins last week!
Had Your Luggage Lost: Wow. I don’t know. It’s been a while. Can’t remember, so that’s good, haha.
Requested Someone’s Autograph: Probably a long time ago. I’m not really a collector of autographs.
Ate Something Unhealthy: Do French fries count? Had those two days ago.
Slept In Your Own Bed: Three weeks ago for six hours. It was in between the Davis Cup and my flight to the States.

Piece on Berdych:

http://www.sify.com/news/my-game-has-matured-berdych-news-national-lbdtOiaajfe.html

Tomas Berdych said that he voted for Rafael Nadal over Roger Federer for the ATP Sportsman of the Year award due to what he thought were the Swiss’ negative comments about his upset of Federer at Wimbledon.

"I was trying to just decide between two names, him and Roger," he said.
"I just decide to go for Rafa. I think he really deserves it. Just was a little bit disappointing after what I read in London, when I play against Roger and beat him. He was a little bit complaining about how he was injured and stuff like that. It was just kind of surprise for me. So maybe that was just the reason I vote for Rafa."

Source: Tennis Magazine.

From AAP:

Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych has ruled himself out of the Czech Republic's Davis Cup quarterfinal against Chile due to an abdominal muscle injury.
"If I have a problem, it's this muscle," Berdych told Czech public radio on Sunday just hours after losing the Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-5 6-4.
"The windy conditions (in the match) contributed to it," Berdych said.
"There are so many matches but I have just one body. Nobody's a machine to cope with everything."
On Facebook, the Czech team said that Berdych will take a three-week rest after his first Grand Slam final.
The Czech Republic's No. 2, Radek Stepanek, was also ruled out of the July 9-11 Davis Cup tie in Coquimbo on clay due to a left knee injury.
The team was expected to announce who will replace Berdych later on Sunday to join Jan Hajek in the singles.
Doubles specialists Lukas Dlouhy and Frantisek Cermak are also on the team.