Czech-Mate
Tomas Berdych (CZE)[6] serves to Roger Federer (SUI)[1] during the Men’s Singles Quarterfinals match on day 10 of the 2012 US Open
When you have a divine presence inside the arena, showing that you are a human is just inviting a rebellion. And when that rebellion comes in the form of a nearly 6 and a half feet tall giant with powerful weapons, you will be hard pressed to quell it. Yes, more often than not, the gods will get away with it. But last night in New York, we saw a god perish with a very human-like mortality. In hindsight, it wasn’t that fancy and epic. But watching Tomas Berdych take apart Roger Federer at the US Open Quarterfinals felt exactly like that.
Such rebellions are still fresh in our minds. Over the last few years, they have occurred with rising frequency. In 2009, Del Potro showed everyone how it could be done here in New York. In 2010 it was Soderling in Roland-Garros and Berdych (once again in the quarterfinals) in Wimbledon. In 2011, it was Tsonga in Wimbledon. Federer’s distaste for Berdych is not unknown. But these three players are conspicuously similar in one aspect of their games. What Federer might have once considered a feast has now become a painful pill to swallow. Over the last few years, it has become evident that he doesn’t bode well against sustained bludgeoning.
Last night was no different.
Berdych was not only able to find every corner of the court, he was also able to put the ball there with pace. His forehand was working like a bazooka. His backhand was penetrating. And his serve was terrifying. Except for a blip in the third set, where he lost the set from 3-2 up, with a break, Berdych was playing as if there was no haunting memory of the last time he went up two-sets to love against the Swiss. In Melbourne, Federer sneaked through. For a brief moment, it felt like New York would also see a jail-break. Berdych bounced back to ensure that the feeling would only be temporary. He sealed his only break point in the fourth set. And when serving for the match, he didn’t miss a single first-serve.
As much as the credit goes to him for playing exceptionally good tennis, he was also helped by the fact that Federer was missing even the routine shots. The inside-out forehands he so impressively struck against Djokovic were today sailing past the baseline. He clipped the net far too often in his approach shots behind the short return of his serve, which either pushed the ball out or allowed Berdych to get into the point. He double-faulted twice in the second set and allowed Berdych a two break cushion. He was out-rallied more often that not. He committed a horrendous 40 unforced errors. His body-language was almost negative and the expression on his face was not encouraging. The result was that he lost his first match under lights in New York since 2003.
Federer was stretched on both wings.
There was a moment in the fourth set, at 3-3 on Berdych’s serve. This was during that spell when everyone was anticipating a fifth set. It was another one of those rallies which after a great forehand from the Czech seemed to be going his way. Federer was two meters behind the baseline and on full-stretch in defence. Berdych played a great backhand cross-court and moved in towards the net while Federer scampered to stay in the point. Berdych was on the tee when Federer reached the ball and sliced it back cross court. The ball, in an almost horizontal trajectory, bristled past the net and went past a Berdych on full-stretch and then dipped to land in. Berdych was stretching so far ahead of himself that he slipped and landed spread-eagle on the court.
At that moment, it seemed like the giant had taken a critical fall. To me, it looked like the giant was awakened from his mid-match slumber. He got up, dusted himself, went back and shot an unreturned serve.
Three games later, he was through to the semi-finals.