By Chris Oddo | Monday, April 14, 2014
Tomas Berdych tells the UK Guardian that Stan Wawrinka's victory in Australia has given him a renewed sense of hope about his Grand Slam prospects.
Photo Source: Corleve
Tomas Berdych has been knocking on the door of the tennis elite for a long time, but more often than not he's been left outside on the front porch, peering through the window as the big four conduct their world domination party. But the former Grand Slam finalist and current World No. 5 still believes that his day in the sun could come.
>>>Not so Great Expectations: U.S. Men on Europe's Clay<<<
Berdych tells Donald McRae of the UK Guardian that he's not discouraged at all by the fact that it was Stan Wawrinka rather than him that broke through to become the first non-big four winner at a Grand Slam since 2009. In fact, the episode has given him a renewed sense of vigor.
"Stan gave all of us new hope and new energy," Berdych told McRae in the recently published interview. "He showed it's possible. From 2005, there were very few players who won a grand slam besides those four [Only Wawrinka and Juan Martin del Potro have broken through since 2005]. It's incredible. But now it's absolutely right to say it's opening up, and this is why I don't feel tired after 12 years. I have a new impulse and I'm very close. I have extra energy to work harder and get higher because I know it also took Andy a long time to win his first slam."
Berdych, who is in Monte-Carlo for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters this week, is a former Wimbledon finalist who has reached the semifinals of the other three Grand Slams as well. Clay might not be his best surface, but Berdych grew up playing on it, and he knows if the conditions are right he can be a force to be reckoned with just as he is on a faster, lower-bouncing hard court or grass.
But can he possibly expect to have his breakthrough on clay, or should he just bide his time and wait for the end of summer when the grass and hard courts are back in play? You never know what can happen on a given day, says Berdych.
“I managed to beat Novak last year in Rome,” the 6'5” Czech said on Sunday during media day at the Monte-Carlo country club. “If the conditions are fast, it's warm, that's the conditions which I like and which I prefer. If all the small things click together then there is always a chance. It's going to be always a big battle to beat those guys for best of five sets, but I think it's really looking too far ahead. I always like to try to go and build everything—the feeling on court, the confidence—and once you get there you see how the week goes.”
Even though the big four have been responsible for keeping Berdych as an afterthought in many a tennis enthusiast's mind for all these years, according to the interview, Berdych harbors no discontent.
"I've managed to beat all of [the big four], at least once, so I'm not complaining,” he told McRae. “And now there is more of a chance. It's extremely tough but if it becomes reality that one day I lift a big trophy it's going to be worth five of them. The feeling will be even more special. I think I can win a slam. That's my main goal and if I could choose one then, yes, it would have to be Wimbledon. But, honestly, I would take any one of them."