Tomas Berdych started his 2013 campaign
in Aircel Chennai Open as the top seed, but could not make it to the end as he
fell in the quarter-finals at the hands of eventual runner-up Roberto Bautista
Agut 5-7 6-2 3-6.
Berdych is one of the three top 8 players,
outside the BIG 4, who have made it to the final of a Grand Slam in this era of
BIG 4. Although the final came on the lawns of Wimbledon, but it came on the
heels of back to back wins over Roger Federer in the quarter-finals and Novak
Djokovic in the semi-finals. Berdych fell in the final at the hands of Rafael
Nadal.
Berdych finished his 2012 campaign on a
high note winning the Davis cup for Czech Republic. It was the Davis cup win in
2010, which propelled Novak Djokovic to the heights of success, will it do the
same for Berdych remains to be seen.
Let us see what the probability of
Berdych is, making it deep into the Australian Open. Berdych will be seeded 5th
for the Australian Open.
Tomas Berdych and Australian Open – Based on the past results of 5th
seeds
Tomas Berdych and his fans will not like
to know that during the past 25 years, a 5th seed has never won on
the Melbourne tennis courts. The best result by a player seeded 5th
has been runner-up showing, achieving the feat 3 times since 1988 when
Australian Open changed the surface from grass to hard courts.
 |
| Image via en.wikipedia.org |
The first 5th seeded player to
make it to the final of Australian Open was Michael Chang in 1996. Chang
defeated 2nd seeded Andre Agassi in straight sets in the semi-finals
to set up a championship match against 4th seeded Boris Becker, only
to lose to Becker in 4 sets.
Andy Murray is the only other player who
as a 5th seed has made it to the finals of Australian Open, and he
has done it twice. In 2010, Andy Murray defeated Rafael Nadal in the
quarter-finals, Nadal retired in the quarter-finals due to knee injury while
trailing Murray 3-6 6-7 0-3. Murray then went on to defeat Marin Cilic in 4
sets in the semi-finals to set a show down against Roger Federer. Roger Federer
defeated Andy Murray in straight sets to claim his 4th Australian
Open title. Andy Murray, as a 5th seed, made it to the finals in
2011 again defeating Alexander Dolgopolov in the quarter-finals and David
Ferrer in the semi-finals, 4 set victories in both the quarter-finals and
semi-finals. However, Murray went down in straight sets to Djokovic in the
final.
I just went on too much with the Murray
thing, the point was just that a 5th seed has made it to the final
of the Australian Open 3 times.
Berdych has 44% chance of making it to
the quarter-finals or better. During the past 25 years a 5th seed
has made it to the quarter-finals of Australian Open 11 times, going 5-6 in the
quarter-finals.
5th seeds have lost in the
first round 4 times during the past 25 years, however the last time a 5th
seed lost in the first round was way back in 2005, and since then a 5th
seed has made it to the 4th round at least.
Will Berdych follow the foot-steps of his
past fellow 5th seeded players, or will he carve his own path?
Tomas Berdych and Australian Open – Based on the past performance of
Berdych in Australian Open
Berdych is 20-9 life-time in Australian Open,
and has made it to the quarter-finals in his last 2 trips here. In 2011 he fell
at the hands of eventual champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets, the final
score being 1-6, 6-7(5), 1-6.
In 2012 Berdych played Rafael Nadal in
the quarter-finals. The first two sets of the match were very high quality
tennis, with Berych winning the first set 7-6(5). The second set went in the
same manner as the first set, but with different outcome, as Nadal won the
second set 7-6(6), from then on it was all Nadal. Nadal won the match in 4
sets, the final score being, 6-7(5), 7-6(6), 6-4, 6-3.
An interesting thing to note is that 7 of
Berdych’s 9 loses at Australian Open have come at the hands of players who were
ranked in the top 6 at that time. On his debut in Australian Open in 2004,
Berdych lost in the 2nd round in straight sets to then world no.4
Andre Agassi. The following year in 2005, he lost the opener to then world no.6
Guillermo Coria. In 2007, Berdych lost to then world no.4 Nikolay Davydenko in
the 4th round. In 2008 and 2009, he lost to Roger Federer in the 4th
round. Berdych lost in straight sets in 2008, but took the first 2 sets in his 4th
round encounter with the Swiss Mastero in the 4th round in 2009,
however Roger Federer stormed back to win the next 3 sets and take the match.
Berdych should be well relaxed for the
Australian Open. He serves big and his game suits the hard courts, will he
unleash the beast he has in himself and make it deep into the Australian Open,
or will he falter again.
Let us wait and watch the future unfold.
For a preview of other players please see below:
Sara Errani and Australian Open 2013
Janko Tipsarevic and Australian Open 2013
Petra Kvitova and Australian Open 2013
Janko Tipsarevic and Australian Open 2013
Petra Kvitova and Australian Open 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment