Berdych is so underrated

[jasonbrown]

Such an amazing player, gets nowhere near the respect level he deserves. Has consistently been in the top 10 and beaten all the big guns of his era numerous times. He is as good or better than the likes of Wawrinka, Murray, Del Potro, Cilic, just never got their good timing to peak at teh right time. Well maybe not Murray, but all those others.

 

[StrongRule]

Agree. His match against Goffin in Rome 2016 is underrated as hell.

 

[Standaa]

Plus he peaked for Tie Break Tens and no one seemed to care.

 

[jasonbrown]

Agree. His match against Goffin in Rome 2016 is underrated as hell.

Hey everyone has a bad day. Remember the GOAT even losing a slam final 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 once.

 

[Mainad]

Such an amazing player, gets nowhere near the respect level he deserves. Has consistently been in the top 10 and beaten all the big guns of his era numerous times. He is as good or better than the likes of Wawrinka, Murray, Del Potro, Cilic, just never got their good timing to peak at teh right time. Well maybe not Murray, but all those others.

Ya think?

 

[DSH]

He just keeps playing for the checks

 

[I Am Finnish]

@Federer and Del Potro

 

[Mainad]

He just keeps playing for the checks

He never bounces.

 

[Mainad]

I always feel Berdych was very unlucky in his run to the 2010 Wimbledon final (his only Slam final) because he had to go through 2 of the Big 3, Federer and Djokovic, which he did successfully only to then come up against the 3rd member, Nadal, in the final. If he had come up against somebody else I feel he would have had a much better chance to put himself in the Slam Champions' enclosure and who knows how much of a boost that may have given him to contend for more?

 

[Towny]

He's not even remotely close to Murray. Nothing to do with timing. Also not anywhere near Wawrinka either. Similar career trajectory to Del Potro and Cilic, but both very clearly have higher peak levels. Berdych has never had a run like USO 2009 or USO 2014. Del Potro went through prime Federer to win his slam; Berdych would have never achieved that. Underrated and undervalued, yes. But he belongs in consideration with Ferrer and Tsonga. Certainly not Murray or Wawrinka

 

[travlerajm]

His Hubert Schmidt performance will forever be more legendary than anything else he did on a tennis court.

 

[Zardoz7/12]

Berdych should get some credit though, he was in the top ten from 2010-2016, that's an achievement to be part of an elite group of players for 7 seasons.

He had the ability and the tools but mentally I think he lacked the self belief, Australian Open semi final 2014, he could have beaten Wawrinka and in 2015 he could have beaten Murray as he had them on the ropes but Wawrinka and Murray had a self belief which dwarfs Berdych's.

 

[Nadalfan98]

His game is too robotic for my taste. I'm surprised he was able to keep coming back for more when it was clear exactly where his place in tennis was and would always be...but I think he finally burned out from that a few years ago.

 

[ollinger]

A number of years in the top 10 makes him a more elegant Roddick, without the trucker hat and without the slam win. Hardly in the company the OP suggests.

 

[Jonas78]

Berdych is the GOAT. Beat Fedr 2-1 the same season Fedr was 4-1 vs Djoko. Its objective proof of GOAThood.

 

[Mainad]

Berdych should get some credit though, he was in the top ten from 2010-2016, that's an achievement to be part of an elite group of players for 7 seasons.

He had the ability and the tools but mentally I think he lacked the self belief, Australian Open semi final 2014, he could have beaten Wawrinka and in 2015 he could have beaten Murray as he had them on the ropes but Wawrinka and Murray had a self belief which dwarfs Berdych's.

Not sure why you thought he had them on the ropes. He had a close 4 setter with Wawrinka in 2014 which included 3 tie-breaks that Wawrinka came out on top of. In 2015 he won a close tie-break in the 1st set with Murray but then lost the next 3 sets including a 2nd set bagel!

 

[mbm0912]

A number of years in the top 10 makes him a more elegant Roddick, without the trucker hat and without the slam win. Hardly in the company the OP suggests.

ahhh that dumb, oversized hat of his..he still looks like a train conductor on the geezer circuit.

 

[papertank]

Berd’s most admirable quality IMO is his consistency. I would say he is THE most consistent top player of this generation outside the big 4 and maybe Ferrer. The amount of slam QFs he made is extremely impressive. His “peak form” made less appearances than the likes of Wawrinka or Cilic, but unlike Ferrer he did have the tools to beat anyone at his best.

 

[Lew II]

Berdych, Ferrer and Tsonga were superior to many GS champions.

H2H Berdych, Ferrer and Tsonga VS Roddick, Hewitt and Safin: 26-16.

 

[duaneeo]

I would say he is THE most consistent top player of this generation outside the big 4 and maybe Ferrer. The amount of slam QFs he made is extremely impressive. His “peak form” made less appearances than the likes of Wawrinka or Cilic, but unlike Ferrer he did have the tools to beat anyone at his best.

But unlike the 6'5" Berdych, Ferrer is only 5'9" (perhaps closer to 5'8"). Yet, their slam records are nearly identical (same number of QFs and finals). Overall, Ferrer has 27 titles to Berdych's thirteen, 7 Masters finals to Berdych's four, and 1 YEC final to Berdych's zero.

Berdych has definitely been consistent, but has mostly been disappointing.

 

[denoted]

But unlike the 6'5" Berdych, Ferrer is only 5'9" (perhaps closer to 5'8"). Yet, their slam records are nearly identical (same number of QFs and finals). Overall, Ferrer has 27 titles to Berdych's thirteen, 7 Masters finals to Berdych's four, and 1 YEC final to Berdych's zero.

Berdych has definitely been consistent, but has mostly been disappointing.

This seems to imply that height is a complete positive for a tennis player. But it reduces mobility and endurance. I agree that the ideal height of a tennis player is taller than Ferrer, but it's probably shorter than Berdych.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Ya think?

Well I don't know if you already know this but I have some very good news for you that Andrew Murray is not giving up & he won't retire after Wimbledon, that is for sure...

 

[Donk]

A number of years in the top 10 makes him a more elegant Roddick, without the trucker hat and without the slam win. Hardly in the company the OP suggests.

Roddick isn't in the same company as Cilic and Del Potro? Lol. Cilic couldn't even dope properly.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Agree. His match against Goffin in Rome 2016 is underrated as hell.

 

[Donk]

He's not even remotely close to Murray. Nothing to do with timing. Also not anywhere near Wawrinka either. Similar career trajectory to Del Potro and Cilic, but both very clearly have higher peak levels. Berdych has never had a run like USO 2009 or USO 2014. Del Potro went through prime Federer to win his slam; Berdych would have never achieved that. Underrated and undervalued, yes. But he belongs in consideration with Ferrer and Tsonga. Certainly not Murray or Wawrinka

Berdych actually beat Federer in 2004. Not many people can say this. More people beat Federer in 08/09 than 2004.

 

[Towny]

Berdych actually beat Federer in 2004. Not many people can say this. More people beat Federer in 08/09 than 2004.

True, but so did Hrbaty. Not sure if it means an awful lot. Besides, it's not as if he won the Olympics following it. He scraped past Robredo and then lost to Dent in straights

 

[Donk]

True, but so did Hrbaty. Not sure if it means an awful lot. Besides, it's not as if he won the Olympics following it. He scraped past Robredo and then lost to Dent in straights

Robredo beat Federer at US Open. Is he better than Berdych??????

JMDP isn't 10x better than Berdych, the differences are small. People just like to over exaggerate the differences.


Berdych was an underachiever. Not quite the underachiever Monfils was, but and underachiever none the less. Had the tools and weapons to win a slam. Dumb tactics and played a one dimensional game when he didn't need to. Always looked to me that Berdych never really knew where he was in a match. Bad thinker.

 

[Towny]

Robredo beat Federer at US Open. Is he better than Berdych??????

JMDP isn't 10x better than Berdych, the differences are small. People just like to over exaggerate the differences.


Berdych was an underachiever. Not quite the underachiever Monfils was, but and underachiever none the less. Had the tools and weapons to win a slam. Dumb tactics and played a one dimensional game when he didn't need to. Always looked to me that Berdych never really knew where he was in a match. Bad thinker.

Not sure what the Fed Robredo match reference is for. Robredo beating garbage Federer is hardly impressive. He's not to be considered the same level as Berdych.

And when did I say Delpo was 10× better then Berdych. I said he had a similar career trajectory but Delpo had a higher peak level. Unless you want to suggest a slam in which Berdych played better than Delpo did at the USO 09.

Berdych was an underachiever; he had a great physical game, but he didn't have the mental game to match it.

 

[jasonbrown]

I always feel Berdych was very unlucky in his run to the 2010 Wimbledon final (his only Slam final) because he had to go through 2 of the Big 3, Federer and Djokovic, which he did successfully only to then come up against the 3rd member, Nadal, in the final. If he had come up against somebody else I feel he would have had a much better chance to put himself in the Slam Champions' enclosure and who knows how much of a boost that may have given him to contend for more?

Wouldnt it have been great if he won that final match. It would have been such an amazing day for tennis.

Do you think if Murray had beaten Nadal in the semis (which he could have, even though it was straight sets, Murray was very close to winning 2 of the 3 sets, and could have won a 4 or 5 setter potentialy) that Berdych would have won his maiden slam here? He had a good record vs Murray at the time. Or what if Nadal had lost 1 of his 2 five setter early rounds to Haase and some German guy. We would almost certainly have a Berdych-Murray final, and how does that go.

 

[jasonbrown]

He's not even remotely close to Murray. Nothing to do with timing. Also not anywhere near Wawrinka either. Similar career trajectory to Del Potro and Cilic, but both very clearly have higher peak levels. Berdych has never had a run like USO 2009 or USO 2014. Del Potro went through prime Federer to win his slam; Berdych would have never achieved that. Underrated and undervalued, yes. But he belongs in consideration with Ferrer and Tsonga. Certainly not Murray or Wawrinka

He very nearly beat Federer at the 2009 Australian Open when up 2 sets to 0. Wasnt that prime Federer? And he might have gone on to win the title had he won that match. Didnt happen of course, but you said never would have. You cant deny he had a shot at winning that 2009 Australian Open encounter up 2 sets to 0, and if 2009 U.S Open was prime Federer so was 2009 Australian Open. He also beat peak Federer at the 04 Olympics, even if the match quality was pretty crappy from both.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

He very nearly beat Federer at the 2009 Australian Open when up 2 sets to 0. Wasnt that prime Federer? And he might have gone on to win the title had he won that match. Didnt happen of course, but you said never would have. You cant deny he had a shot at winning that 2009 Australian Open encounter up 2 sets to 0, and if 2009 U.S Open was prime Federer so was 2009 Australian Open. He also beat peak Federer at the 04 Olympics, even if the match quality was pretty crappy from both.

You honestly think he would have beaten Nadal in the final?

 

[Meles]

Such an amazing player, gets nowhere near the respect level he deserves. Has consistently been in the top 10 and beaten all the big guns of his era numerous times. He is as good or better than the likes of Wawrinka, Murray, Del Potro, Cilic, just never got their good timing to peak at teh right time. Well maybe not Murray, but all those others.

Vacuum Era Masters and not much else

 

[Meles]

Not sure why you thought he had them on the ropes. He had a close 4 setter with Wawrinka in 2014 which included 3 tie-breaks that Wawrinka came out on top of. In 2015 he won a close tie-break in the 1st set with Murray but then lost the next 3 sets including a 2nd set bagel!

That Murray match one of many Bendych crash and burns:

Literally was giving Murray evil eye throughout the first set and very end (Vallverdu just came over to Bendy) and then got absolutely spanked in the 2nd.

 

[Mainad]

Wouldnt it have been great if he won that final match. It would have been such an amazing day for tennis.

Do you think if Murray had beaten Nadal in the semis (which he could have, even though it was straight sets, Murray was very close to winning 2 of the 3 sets, and could have won a 4 or 5 setter potentialy) that Berdych would have won his maiden slam here? He had a good record vs Murray at the time. Or what if Nadal had lost 1 of his 2 five setter early rounds to Haase and some German guy. We would almost certainly have a Berdych-Murray final, and how does that go.

Interesting question. Berdych was 2-1 vs Murray in their H2H at that time including a most recent straight sets beatdown at RG but they had never met on grass (their only grass encounter would come at 2016 Wimbledon which Murray won comfortably in straights). However I do wonder if the fact that it would have been Murray's 3rd Slam final and 2nd of that year whereas Berdych was making his debut in a Slam final would have made the difference. We will never know.

 

[Towny]

He very nearly beat Federer at the 2009 Australian Open when up 2 sets to 0. Wasnt that prime Federer? And he might have gone on to win the title had he won that match. Didnt happen of course, but you said never would have. You cant deny he had a shot at winning that 2009 Australian Open encounter up 2 sets to 0, and if 2009 U.S Open was prime Federer so was 2009 Australian Open. He also beat peak Federer at the 04 Olympics, even if the match quality was pretty crappy from both.

I don't put much stock in the 2004 match as neither were playing great. Fed was of course prime in 2009 and Berdych did very well. However, what I said was that I doubt Berdych would go through prime Federer to actually win a slam. Even if he had beaten Federer, which crucially he didn't, I doubt he would've gone on to win it himself, especially given Federer himself didn't win it. He has pretty poor record against Nadal and outside 2005/6, he's only beaten Nadal once

Regardless, I accept you could make an argument that there's not a lot in it between Berdych and Cilic and Del Potro. Especially Cilic. However, I don't see how he could be reasonably compared to Wawrinka and Murray

 

[jasonbrown]

Interesting question. Berdych was 2-1 vs Murray in their H2H at that time including a most recent straight sets beatdown at RG but they had never met on grass (their only grass encounter would come at 2016 Wimbledon which Murray won comfortably in straights). However I do wonder if the fact that it would have been Murray's 3rd Slam final and 2nd of that year whereas Berdych was making his debut in a Slam final would have made the difference. We will never know.

Darn Haase and Petzscher (think that was his name) for choking and not letting that final happen. Nadal was up the creek in both those matches, but inexperienced opponents let him off the hook, and by the end of the event, as per usual when he gets that far vs anyone but sometimes Djokovic, he was nearly unstoppable.

 

[jasonbrown]

I don't put much stock in the 2004 match as neither were playing great. Fed was of course prime in 2009 and Berdych did very well. However, what I said was that I doubt Berdych would go through prime Federer to actually win a slam. Even if he had beaten Federer, which crucially he didn't, I doubt he would've gone on to win it himself, especially given Federer himself didn't win it. He has pretty poor record against Nadal and outside 2005/6, he's only beaten Nadal once

Regardless, I accept you could make an argument that there's not a lot in it between Berdych and Cilic and Del Potro. Especially Cilic. However, I don't see how he could be reasonably compared to Wawrinka and Murray

Even if you insist he is weaker than all those guys, including Cilic, that does not mean he doesnt warrant more respect. Nobody talks about him and people mock him endlessly. He was a great solid top 10 player for many years, beat everyone multiple times, and is one of the purest and most powerful ball strikers.

Jimmy Arias called him the best player out of the big 4 during the Canadian Open in 2015 and 2016.

 

[Towny]

Even if you insist he is weaker than all those guys, including Cilic, that does not mean he doesnt warrant more respect. Nobody talks about him and people mock him endlessly. He was a great solid top 10 player for many years, beat everyone multiple times, and is one of the purest and most powerful ball strikers.

Jimmy Arias called him the best player out of the big 4 during the Canadian Open in 2015 and 2016.

Agreed that he wasn't a joke. He had some great runs, great victories and was incredibly consistent. He does deserve more respect. Certainly much better than the vast majority of the younger players have turned out to be so far

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Berdych was an underachiever. Not quite the underachiever Monfils was, but and underachiever none the less. Had the tools and weapons to win a slam. Dumb tactics and played a one dimensional game when he didn't need to. Always looked to me that Berdych never really knew where he was in a match. Bad thinker.

My premise about your posts is so correct it isn't funny. Berdych is a mug who shouldn't really be talked about or mentioned. Guy would barely win a major in any era.

As for comparing this guy to Roddick... lmao. At least Roddick had some balls against Nadal and Djokovic. Berdych just ate double bagels from other mugs like Goffin.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Even if you insist he is weaker than all those guys, including Cilic, that does not mean he doesnt warrant more respect. Nobody talks about him and people mock him endlessly. He was a great solid top 10 player for many years, beat everyone multiple times, and is one of the purest and most powerful ball strikers.

Jimmy Arias called him the best player out of the big 4 during the Canadian Open in 2015 and 2016.

Because he sucked.

 

[jasonbrown]

Because he sucked.

That is not fair, he was top 10 for years. He pushed all the big guns regularly, and beat them all multiple times. Not everyone can be Federer or even a multi slam winner.

 

[Mainad]

Darn Haase and Petzscher (think that was his name) for choking and not letting that final happen. Nadal was up the creek in both those matches, but inexperienced opponents let him off the hook, and by the end of the event, as per usual when he gets that far vs anyone but sometimes Djokovic, he was nearly unstoppable.

Petzschner.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Berdych is the guy that tells you that at the top level, you have to have variety. The dude was so one dimensional it was sickening to watch.

 

[Grampa]

Berdych is the guy that tells you that at the top level, you have to have variety. The dude was so one dimensional it was sickening to watch.

I don’t know, he could volley well and mix up things. On this forum and in the news his lack of success was pointed towards his mental weakness, or just being Birdych, as @Federer and Del Potro so lovingly puts it.

 

[Grampa]

Loved his forehand though, smooth motion and the sound it made when bouncing off the racquet was great. Didn’t do much with his backhand. Imagine a less talented and slower but more hardworking Tsonga.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Petzschner.

Mury

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[Benben245]

2009 4th round US open, one of the most underrated matches of all time.

 

[Cashman]

Berdych was an underachiever; he had a great physical game, but he didn't have the mental game to match it.

Definitely this.

 

[King No1e]

A number of years in the top 10 makes him a more elegant Roddick, without the trucker hat and without the slam win. Hardly in the company the OP suggests.

"More elegant" is a gross understatement. Their games are polar opposites in terms of elegance. Berdych made ball bashing look pretty while Roddick made it look ugly.