WC Berdych Tomas
Tomas Berdych looking to fly in Auckland at ASB Classic
Spoiler:
It's been a long time coming, but at last New Zealand tennis fans will be able to witness the delights of Tomas Berdych at the ASB Classic.
The giant Czech has been given a wildcard to play at next year's Auckland ATP tournament and he plans to use it to launch his comeback.
The 33-year-old, who played in the Wimbledon final in 2010 has usually chosen to spend the second week of the year training in Melbourne, before the Australian Open.
But this time, because of a lengthy injury layoff, he's decided he wants to get more matches under his belt and to come to New Zealand.
READ MORE
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"I have been injured last half of the season and I kind of wanted to have fresh start in 2019 and do things differently," Berdych told Stuff.
"I haven't been able to win Australian Open yet so maybe the way to do it is by playing in New Zealand.
Tomas Berdych will be making his first visit to New Zealand next month.
GETTY IMAGES
Tomas Berdych will be making his first visit to New Zealand next month.
"I definitely need matches and I hope to get a lot of it in the first two weeks of the year. I have practised now long enough to be able to push for four weeks in a row if needed."
Berdych often has the demeanour of a pretty serious guy and his personality doesn't really shine out.
However, for this interview, Berdych showed there is another, lighter side to him and it came out when he's asked what he knows about New Zealand.
"What I can read in the press," he said.
"I can't really find any bad articles out there so my opinion is very positive."
Outside of the big four, who are realistically never going to play at the Classic, Berdych is about as big a name as you're going to get coming to Auckland.
He spent just one week outside the top 10 between July 2010 and January 2017, has won 13 titles and got to the semifinals in seven grand slams.
There will also be players who come to Auckland like Gael Monfils, Denis Shapovalov, John Isner, Roberto and Fabio Fognini plus David Ferrer, who's on a farewell tour and always been an exception.
But Berdych is one of those players who've consistently been in the next echelon of players below Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He is with players like Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka. Where you place Andy Murray is a matter of opinion.
Berdych is down at 71 in the world rankings, because of a back injury that sidelined him in June and it meant that after a great start to the year where he reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the rest of 2018 was a right off for him.
"It was incredibly frustrating actually," Berdych said of the season.
"Throughout my career I was lucky with not having many injuries so I am really not used to this.
"I had the feeling I was building up something big but then my back said 'no!' So I had to take time off and work on my body."
While it's been annoying for him to take six months off, Berdych can see the positives of it too.
MORE FROM
DAVID LONG • SENIOR SPORTS WRITER
david.long@stuff.co.nz
Novak Djokovic took the second half of 2017 out of the sport last year with an elbow injury, having struggled during the season and he came back refreshed and again the most dominant player in the game.
Berdych is hoping his lay off will have a similar effect.
" fresh, prepared, motivated and ready to go!" Berdych said.
"I hope this break will have positive impact on me like it had on some other players last few years.
"I had time to spend with my wife, family and friends, it was refreshing. Also, to kind of show me what the life will look like when I am retired. So now that I know, it can wait!"
A decade or so ago, a player at the age of 33 would have been regarded as someone in decline and the thought of making a comeback at Berdych's age would seem fanciful.
But with six of the top seven players in the world rankings in their 30s, tennis is no longer a young man's game. So why has it changed?
"I think the main reason is more information is available to us and our teams on new diets, new ways of practising," Berdych explained.
"Now, players can easily go until they're 35 and still be 100 per cent physically and mentally ready to compete with youngsters, but with major experience.
"That's why at the same time it's hard for young players to break through."
Other than the 20-year-old Alexander Zverev, none of the 20 somethings look likely of breaking the stranglehold of the grand slams next year by those in their 30s and with a good run at the Classic, it could launch Berdych on his way to his best season yet.
"I am feeling good, so hopefully with a few wins at start of the year I can get on a roll, who knows?"
The giant Czech has been given a wildcard to play at next year's Auckland ATP tournament and he plans to use it to launch his comeback.
The 33-year-old, who played in the Wimbledon final in 2010 has usually chosen to spend the second week of the year training in Melbourne, before the Australian Open.
But this time, because of a lengthy injury layoff, he's decided he wants to get more matches under his belt and to come to New Zealand.
READ MORE
* Wildcard given out for Classic
* David Ferrer confirmed for Auckland
* Azarenka aiming to launch big year in NZ
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertise with Stuff
"I have been injured last half of the season and I kind of wanted to have fresh start in 2019 and do things differently," Berdych told Stuff.
"I haven't been able to win Australian Open yet so maybe the way to do it is by playing in New Zealand.
Tomas Berdych will be making his first visit to New Zealand next month.
GETTY IMAGES
Tomas Berdych will be making his first visit to New Zealand next month.
"I definitely need matches and I hope to get a lot of it in the first two weeks of the year. I have practised now long enough to be able to push for four weeks in a row if needed."
Berdych often has the demeanour of a pretty serious guy and his personality doesn't really shine out.
However, for this interview, Berdych showed there is another, lighter side to him and it came out when he's asked what he knows about New Zealand.
"What I can read in the press," he said.
"I can't really find any bad articles out there so my opinion is very positive."
Outside of the big four, who are realistically never going to play at the Classic, Berdych is about as big a name as you're going to get coming to Auckland.
He spent just one week outside the top 10 between July 2010 and January 2017, has won 13 titles and got to the semifinals in seven grand slams.
There will also be players who come to Auckland like Gael Monfils, Denis Shapovalov, John Isner, Roberto and Fabio Fognini plus David Ferrer, who's on a farewell tour and always been an exception.
But Berdych is one of those players who've consistently been in the next echelon of players below Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He is with players like Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka. Where you place Andy Murray is a matter of opinion.
Berdych is down at 71 in the world rankings, because of a back injury that sidelined him in June and it meant that after a great start to the year where he reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, the rest of 2018 was a right off for him.
"It was incredibly frustrating actually," Berdych said of the season.
"Throughout my career I was lucky with not having many injuries so I am really not used to this.
"I had the feeling I was building up something big but then my back said 'no!' So I had to take time off and work on my body."
While it's been annoying for him to take six months off, Berdych can see the positives of it too.
MORE FROM
DAVID LONG • SENIOR SPORTS WRITER
david.long@stuff.co.nz
Novak Djokovic took the second half of 2017 out of the sport last year with an elbow injury, having struggled during the season and he came back refreshed and again the most dominant player in the game.
Berdych is hoping his lay off will have a similar effect.
" fresh, prepared, motivated and ready to go!" Berdych said.
"I hope this break will have positive impact on me like it had on some other players last few years.
"I had time to spend with my wife, family and friends, it was refreshing. Also, to kind of show me what the life will look like when I am retired. So now that I know, it can wait!"
A decade or so ago, a player at the age of 33 would have been regarded as someone in decline and the thought of making a comeback at Berdych's age would seem fanciful.
But with six of the top seven players in the world rankings in their 30s, tennis is no longer a young man's game. So why has it changed?
"I think the main reason is more information is available to us and our teams on new diets, new ways of practising," Berdych explained.
"Now, players can easily go until they're 35 and still be 100 per cent physically and mentally ready to compete with youngsters, but with major experience.
"That's why at the same time it's hard for young players to break through."
Other than the 20-year-old Alexander Zverev, none of the 20 somethings look likely of breaking the stranglehold of the grand slams next year by those in their 30s and with a good run at the Classic, it could launch Berdych on his way to his best season yet.
"I am feeling good, so hopefully with a few wins at start of the year I can get on a roll, who knows?"
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/tennis/10 ... sb-classic
