Berdych beats Tsonga to stay in semis hunt

Updated November 08, 2012 09:47:05

Tomas Berdych remains in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals after the Czech fifth seed defeated France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 in London on Thursday morning (AEDT).

Berdych, who lost his opening Group A fixture against Andy Murray, now has to beat world number one Novak Djokovic on Friday to book his place in the last four of the prestigious season-ending event.

The former Wimbledon finalist's victory also means Djokovic is not certain to qualify yet even though the Serb maintained his 100 per cent record with a win over Murray earlier on Thursday.

Tsonga is not definitely eliminated but he would need to beat Murray in straight sets and hope Berdych loses by the same margin against Djokovic to advance.

"It was important to win and now I'm looking forward to the next match," Berdych said.

"I tried to just focus on myself and remind myself I had won the recent matches between us.

"I was a bit surprised with the score in the final set but not how hard I had to work for it. I played well and finished it well."

Berdych had beaten Tsonga in both of their meetings this year, including the final of the Stockholm Open, and the 27-year-old was a deserved winner again after a blistering finish.

Tsonga has not defeated a top-eight ranked player this year and once again the flamboyant Frenchman was too inconsistent on the big points.

Berdych had a chance to take control of the first set when he earned three break points in the seventh game, but Tsonga saved all three with a series of booming serves and powerful forehands.

Tsonga did not make the most of his escape though as a series of wayward groundstrokes gifted Berdych the first break at 6-5 and the Czech gleefully seized the chance to serve out the set with an ace.

Berdych saved two break points at 1-2 in the second set, yet Tsonga was beginning to find some momentum and he pressured the Czech into one more mistake to move 3-1 ahead.

Tsonga briefly wobbled when he served for the set, giving Berdych a break point, but he held on to send the match to a decider.

Berdych was under pressure again in the first game of the final set, this time digging deep to save two break points, and he made the most of his reprieve with a break for a 3-1 lead.

Suddenly the tide had turned back in Berdych's favour and he sealed the win in emphatic fashion with a second break.

AFP

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First posted November 08, 2012 09:47:05

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Berdych keeps Czech Davis Cup hopes alive

Updated November 17, 2012 10:08:10

Hosts Czech Republic and holders Spain were tied 1-1 in the Davis Cup final in Prague Saturday morning as Tomas Berdych beat Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 in the second rubber of the day.

Berdych, the world number six and the Czech number one, needed three hours and 58 minutes to see off 11th-ranked Almagro on Prague's hardcourt.

In the first rubber of the day, world number five David Ferrer beat 37th-ranked Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to give Spain a lead.

"That's all we need today. Under the circumstances today, that's the maximum that we can get," Berdych said after the epic rubber.

"We are 1-1, we have opened the chance for Sunday, no matter what happens tomorrow. That's a good step for us," he added.

Berdych took the first set against Almagro owing to a single break.

The fast-serving players - both 27 years old - reversed their roles in the second set, with Almagro equalising.

The third set started with a nervous exchange with the umpire, whose verdict in Almagro's favour turned the home crowd of 14,237 people against the Spaniard.

Berdych then capitalised on the frantic support and took the third set.

In the fourth, Berdych took an early lead but Almagro levelled with a re-break to take the set in tie-break.

And in the fifth, both players traded breaks midway through the set with Berdych emerging on top.

Almagro won 21-13 on aces.

Spain is missing world number four Rafael Nadal, sidelined with a knee injury.

It is looking to add a fourth crown to its three Davis Cup trophies from the last four years, after having won the cup in 2000 and 2004.

Czechoslovakia, which split peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, won the Davis Cup in 1980.

But if the Czechs win the 100th edition of the Davis Cup finals, they will clinch a rare team double, last achieved by the United States in 1990, after their women's team lifted the Fed Cup here two weeks ago.

AFP

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First posted November 17, 2012 10:08:10

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Djokovic subdues Berdych to reach last four

Updated November 10, 2012 10:13:45

Novak Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals with a 100 per cent record as the world number one defeated Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) in London on Saturday morning (AEDT).

Djokovic had already defeated Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his previous Group A matches and the Serb knew he needed only to win one set against Berdych to be sure of qualifying.

The 25-year-old achieved that goal in just over half an hour, but he refused to take it easy after that and secured the victory which guaranteed first place in the group and potentially an easier route to the final.

In the process, Djokovic also secured his 73rd match win of 2012, moving him level with David Ferrer as the year's two most successful players on the Tour.

Berdych's second loss of the tournament means he is eliminated, while US Open champion Murray can seal his place in the last four by taking one set from his match against Tsonga later on Friday.

"I didn't want to think about scenarios or calculations. I leave that to other people and just try to do my job and win on the court," Djokovic said.

"I played a really good match but I thought he served better towards the end of the second set. I was fortunate to come back and win in straight sets."

Djokovic had won 10 of his previous 11 encounters with Berdych, a dominant run which included victories over the Czech in the Tour Finals for the last two years.

The Serb, who won the Tour Finals in 2008 in Shanghai, was quick to take command again, breaking for a 2-1 lead when Berdych netted on the fourth break-point of the game.

Berdych had a chance to get back in the match when he earned his first break point on the Djokovic serve in the next game, but the Serb snuffed out that glimmer of hope before pressing home his advantage.

Djokovic was dictating the tempo of the rallies and the unnerved Berdych, unable to cause much damage with his booming serve, surrendered a second break in the fifth game that effectively ended the first set.

With his last four place now secured, Djokovic looked like sprinting to victory when he broke to go 2-1 ahead in the second set, but a loose service game presented Berdych with an unexpected lifeline.

That gave renewed impetus to Berdych, who started to unload his groundstrokes with more freedom, and the set went to a tie-break.

The Czech looked certain to force a final set when he raced into a 6-3 lead in the breaker.

But Djokovic, who has had to cope with the stress of the sudden illness that struck his father Srdjan recently, once again showed tremendous resolve as he saved all three set points and then shattered with Berdych with a mini-break of his own to seal the win.

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, england

First posted November 10, 2012 09:23:30

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Federer to face Berdych in Madrid final

Updated May 13, 2012 07:36:59

Roger Federer put on a blue clay master class to move to within one win of a return to the world number two ranking as he hammered Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-3 for a place in the Madrid Masters final.

The Swiss, who owns a record 16 Grand Slam titles, will replace Rafael Nadal on Monday in the standings if he beats Tomas Berdych for the title.

Czech sixth seed Berdych, who toppled Argentine Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), trails Federer 6-10 in their career series, but has won three of their last five meetings dating to 2010.

Federer was flawless on the same slick blue clay surface which had angered world number one Novak Djokovic and number two Nadal, both men vowing never to return if the surface does not change.

The Swiss improved his record over Tipsarevic, who put out Djokovic in the quarter-finals, to 5-0.

Another title on Sunday would pull Federer level on the all-time mark of 20 Masters trophies alongside Nadal.

The record-setting Federer is into his 104th ATP final as he aims for a 74th trophy. It will be his 32nd Masters final (19-12).

Federer, whose graceful game has allowed him to practically glide along the clay which has tripped up many of his rivals, turned in a typically picture-perfect performance.

He swept the opening set, concluding with a break of Tipsarevic and quickly ran out to a 4-1 lead in the second.

Federer put the one-way contest away on his second match point, ending with 25 winners and 13 unforced errors in just 67 minutes.

Berdych fired down 15 aces in a contest lasting just over two and a quarter hours at the Caja Magica.

"He was my toughest match of the week," Berdych said.

"I had that feeling from the start. But I was confident going in. I had my belief.

"I'm definitely happy with my the game that I've played here all week."

The Czech won only his second match out of five against Del Potro, who captured the Estoril title last weekend, as he began his campaign for the French Open later than most of his rivals after resting at home.

Coming to the court, Berdych had won 26 service games this week and got one more before finally being broken in the third game of the opening set.

But he took it back in the 10th game for 5-5 as Del Potro was broken while serving for the set.

The distraught Argentine rallied from 1-5 down in the tiebreaker but still lost it after 68 minutes.

Berdych began the second with a break, was broken back for 3-3, but again showed his nerve with a winning tiebreak effort to advance into the title match on a second match point after Del Potro saved the first with an ace.

Del Potro dropped to 10-1 on clay this season and 22-2 on sets after defeating Berdych in their last three meetings without losing a set.

"I lost because Berdych played better, and that's the only reason," said Del Potro, who disputed several line calls and did not shake hands with the chair umpire at the end of the match.

Berdych will be playing in his 14th ATP World Tour final and third Masters final, having won in Paris seven years ago before losing in Miami in 2010.

AFP

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First posted May 13, 2012 07:13:06

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Berdych beats Monfils for Montpellier title

Updated February 06, 2012 10:28:29

Czech Tomas Berdych claimed his seventh career title when he defeated local favourite Gael Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.

World number seven Berdych had too much pace for Frenchman Monfils and prevailed in two hours five minutes.

"It was a great three sets, it was very close and I'm happy I was able to do it," top seed Berdych told French TV channel Canal Plus Sport.

"He is a great player, he knows how to fight on court, but I knew that and I was ready for it."

Monfils, who was the defending champion, admitted the better player had won.

"I tried to return his serves better, to be more aggressive but it is not easy when he steps on to the court," he said.

Berdych took the first set easily but world number 13 Montfils started to move much better in the second.

He opened up a 3-1 lead and although the Czech threatened to level in the eighth game, Monfils held serve to send the match into a decider.

Monfils saw off two break points in the eighth game but conceded the third to let Berdych serve for the match.

The Czech duly delivered, wrapping it up on his first match point with a backhand winner.

Reuters

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First posted February 06, 2012 10:28:29

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Berdych, Del Potro join Federer in quarters

Updated February 17, 2012 09:53:27

Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin del Potro joined resting top seed Roger Federer in the Rotterdam Open quarter-finals.

Second seed Berdych advanced with only minimal effort as opponent Marcos Baghdatis quit with a left foot injury after 19 minutes on court while trailing 3-0 in their second round match.

But Del Potro, the number three seed making his debut here, had a battle on his hands before he finally got past Slovak Karol Beck 6-4, 7-5.

Federer moved easily into the last eight at the Ahoy stadium when scheduled second round opponent Mikhail Youzhny withdrew a day before their contest with a left foot injury.

Federer still had to go out and win his opening match against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut, which he did, 6-4, 6-4.

Del Potro had to overcome a slight bloody nose which required a medical time-out early in the contest with Beck.

Once that was sorted, it was back to work for the 2009 US Open champion, who advanced with nine aces - his last one earned two match points.

Del Potro needed almost two hours to move into a match with the winner from Serb seventh seed Victor Troicki and the last local standing in Jesse Huta Galung.

"He played so fast and hits with such a low bounce, I really had to keep up," said Del Potro of Beck. "It was tough.

"But I focused in the last game on trying to get an ace. I got one and I'm just glad that I'm through."

Frenchman Richard Gasquet, seeded fifth, continued his steady progress at his second tournament appearance, defeating Russian Alex Bogomolov 6-3, 6-2 while Italy's Andreas Seppi dispatched German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2.

The 16th-ranked Gasquet improved his record to seven wins this season to next face Russian Niklay Davydenko.

AFP

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First posted February 17, 2012 09:53:27

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Nadal outlasts Berdych in duel of stamina

Updated January 25, 2012 00:35:47

Rafael Nadal battled back to oust Tomas Berdych in four sets on Tuesday and set up a mouth-watering Australian Open semi-final with long-time rival Roger Federer.

In a repeat of the 2010 Wimbledon final won by Nadal, the Spanish second seed struggled to impose himself early against Berdych, losing the first set, but recovered to win 6-7 (7-5), 7-6 (8-6), 6-4, 6-3 in four hours and 16 minutes.

"I tried my best in every moment," said Nadal.

"He played very well during almost the whole match."

The semi-final will be a repeat of the epic Nadal-Federer title match at the 2009 Australian Open, won by Nadal, which the Spaniard described as "one of those memories that will always be in my mind".

The Czech seventh seed, unsettling Nadal with the power of his shot-making, missed a golden opportunity to take the first set when he squandered four set points in the 12th game.

But in a dramatic tie-break he made no mistake, thundering down an ace after the courtside umpire refused a late challenge from a furious Nadal.

Nadal missed out on a set point in the 12th game of the second set but he then saved a Berdych set point in the tie-break, and the pumped-up Spaniard levelled the match when the Czech went long.

Second seed Nadal began to seize the initiative as Berdych faded, taking the third set 6-4 and breaking in the first game of the fourth set with a searing forehand winner down the line.

And Berdych, whose previous match ended in bitterness after he accused Nicolas Almagro of deliberately targeting him with a forehand, could find no way back as Nadal sealed the win.

AFP

Tags: sport, australian-open, tennis, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 25, 2012 00:00:42

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'Sorry' not enough for fuming Berdych

Updated January 23, 2012 09:20:23

Fuming Tomas Berdych said sorry was not enough Sunday as he accused Nicolas Almagro of hitting a ball at his face at the Australian Open - and was booed mercilessly for refusing to shake hands.

The Czech seventh seed, who came from a set down to win the fourth-round match 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2), said Almagro had deliberately targeted him at the net with a shot which hit his arm.

Berdych was described as a "sore winner" by an ESPN commentator and roundly booed by the crowd at Melbourne Park.

But he was unrepentant afterwards, saying Almagro's apology simply was not enough.

"You think it's enough to apologise? You should think first before you do something," said Berdych, who tried to duck the shot and ended up lying on the court.

When asked what Almagro could have done besides saying sorry, he said: "He should play the ball differently. That's it

"Probably whoever has played tennis knows that the court is pretty big, and you always have some space to put the ball in.

"I was just able and lucky to somehow fall down. Just hit me in the arm, and that's it, you know."

Berdych, who said it was the first time he had refused to shake hands with an opponent, was asked whether he had any regrets.

"I think maybe we both did some mistakes. So it's even, and that's it. We don't have any problems at all," he said, adding that he was taken aback by the crowd's reaction.

"I mean, I can say I was a bit surprised (by their reaction), but hopefully it's just as I said, it's past," he said.

Tenth seed Almagro also sought to play down the incident.

"I don't think it was an incident. Everybody can do what they want," he said.

"I played the point the way I had to do it in order to win, and I can leave the court with my head high."

When asked directly whether he had tried to hit Berdych with the ball, he replied: "I tried to win the point."

"After the point, I won the point, I said sorry to him three or four times and after that you can ask him, not me," he added.

AFP

Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 23, 2012 08:13:56

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No problems for Nadal, Berdych booed off

Updated January 22, 2012 19:35:02

Spanish second seed Rafael Nadal produced a controlled performance to defeat compatriot Feliciano Lopez in straight sets and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.

The 10-time grand slam champion downed 18th-seeded Lopez 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in 2 hours 25 minutes on a hot day at Rod Laver Arena.

The world number two reached the Melbourne quarter-finals for the sixth straight year and is chasing his second Australian Open victory after beating great rival Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

Nadal broke left-handed Lopez's serve five times and dropped his service only once. He was always in control of the match, improving his record against his opponent to nine wins in 11 meetings.

"It was a very hot day and I think it's a positive to win in straight sets especially in these conditions," Nadal said.

"I've started the tournament playing really well this time. I felt I've played well from the first match and today I played another complete match.

"Now I'm in the quarter-finals. I am doing the right things. I am in the right place, right moment."

Nadal retired with a knee injury in his 2010 quarter-final against Andy Murray and last year played out his losing three-set quarter-final with a torn thigh muscle against compatriot David Ferrer.

"Hopefully, it won't happen this time," Nadal said.

"Every year is different. I've had a bad experience here in the last two years.

"In 2010 I retired because I couldn't continue and last year I decided not to retire, but I had a problem in the second or third game of the match. So I played one complete match with very bad feelings."

Nadal's opponent will be Czech Tomas Berdych, who was booed after he fought back from a set down against Spaniard Nicolas Almagro.

Berdych beat the 10th-seeded Almagro 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2).

The match ended acrimoniously with the Czech seventh seed accusing Almagro of deliberately hitting a ball at him while he was positioned at the net during a rally.

As Berdych refused to shake hands with Almagro at the end of the match, the crowd erupted into loud booing, almost drowning out his courtside interview.

"It's what they (the crowd) think. When somebody wants to hit you straight to the face I don't see this as a nice moment," he said.

"Especially when you have all the court free and you're just standing in the middle.

"That's their opinion. Nothing's going to change this because that's my decision and I don't have any nice feelings.

"Of course I'm happy to go through in four sets, a really tough one, I'm looking forward to my next match."

In a tight match lasting nearly four hours, Berdych broke serve only once, while Almagro earned two service breaks, but the Czech hit the greater number of winners, 70 to 54.

Meanwhile, Argentina's 11th seed Juan Martin del Potro also advanced with a straight sets win over German Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Del Potro defeated the unseeded German 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 and will next face either third seed Roger Federer or Australian teenager Bernard Tomic on Tuesday.

AFP

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First posted January 22, 2012 16:23:13

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Tomic beats Berdych at Kooyong

Updated January 11, 2012 16:56:59

Bernard Tomic boosted his pre-Australian Open campaign with a victory over world number seven Tomas Berdych at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.

The 19-year-old rebounded from losing the first set to beat the Czech star 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Tomic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist last year, had to overcome swirling wind conditions but managed to control the match once he found some rhythm, shutting out his experienced opponent.

Earlier, in a rain-delayed opening day to the tournament, Austrian Jurgen Melzer beat a jet-lagged Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets.

Melzer, who has struggled through the year with back problems, described the match as "ugly" in the uncomfortable conditions, but was able to chalk up a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Tsonga, a finalist at the Australian Open in 2008, came to Australia after winning the opening tournament of the year in Doha, beating his French compatriot Gael Monfils in the final.

AAP

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First posted January 11, 2012 16:56:59

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Kvitova and Berdych in Hopman romp

Updated January 05, 2012 10:02:33

Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and team-mate Tomas Berdych won their singles matches in straight sets on Wednesday to lead the Czech Republic to a 3-0 win over the United States at the Hopman Cup in Perth.

Kvitova opened with a crushing 6-2, 6-1 victory over Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Berdych beat Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3.

Berdych saved four break points while serving for the match before converting his first match point to ensure the Czechs won their second straight match at the eight-country tournament.

Berdych and Kvitova made it a clean sweep when they beat Mattek-Sands and Fish 6-3, 7-5 in mixed doubles.

The extra point that the winners earned could help determine the final placings in Group A, where the Czechs are strong favourites to qualify for Saturday's final.

The Americans, who have won the Hopman Cup a record six times, fell to 0-2 after losing to Denmark in their opening match.

Both Mattek-Sands and Fish have been part of winning US teams before, but have come up short in the 24th edition of the tournament.

The Czechs and Denmark play each other on Friday, featuring a women's singles encounter between world number one Caroline Wozniacki and the second-ranked Kvitova, while the US plays Bulgaria.

"I'm happy that I won, but first still I have a lot of space for improvement because I didn't feel very comfortable on the court," said Kvitova, who could take over the top ranking from Wozniacki before the Australian Open if the Czech player wins the Sydney International next week.

Berdych, like Kvitova, has won both singles matches. He beat Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria on Monday.

"We are not in the final yet, so we still need to do well one more time," Berdych said.

"We are working well on the court."

Earlier on Wednesday, Tsvetana Pironkova and Dimitrov came back from a set down to win the deciding mixed doubles and complete a 2-1 Bulgaria victory over Wozniacki and Frederik Nielsen.

AAP

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First posted January 05, 2012 06:56:25

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Berdych to face Cilic in Beijing final

Updated October 09, 2011 07:08:41

Czech Tomas Berdych outpowered top seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to take a 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 victory and reach the final of the China Open.

He will face Marin Cilic, who deployed his powerful serve to ease past fellow Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-3.

In women's play, German 9th seed Andrea Petkovic overwhelmed Romanian qualifier Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-0 to reach the final.

She will play 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated Italian Flavia Pennetta 6-2, 6-4.

Tsonga was unable to take control of the on-form Berdych, who is one of his rivals in the chase for a spot at next month's season-ending World Tour Finals in London.

The world number 10 took advantage of 15 Tsonga unforced errors, pounding his way into the final with his eighth ace on match point.

"This final could turn my season from a good one to a really great one," said Berdych.

"I thought I was in with a good chance, I'm expecting a tough final tomorrow."

Cilic, outserved his opponent with 13 aces against nine from Ljubicic.

He broke serve to lead 5-4 before serving out for the first set.

"I then started serving better, the start of the second set was really crucial," said the 23-year-old.

"It was maybe the best I've ever served."

AFP

Tags: tennis, sport, china

First posted October 09, 2011 07:08:41

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