Better player Berdych or Zverev?
- Thread starter NatF
- Start date
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
I think Zverev might develop that extra gear that Berdych never had.
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Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
3 > 1
Zhilady
Professional
17 > 0.
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
GS QFS?
Rafa's OCD
Semi-Pro
Zverev will be a multiple Slam winner. Berdych, not.
Zhilady
Professional
Si Senor.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
Right now Berdych obviously. But Zverev will be better because he has greater will. Pearduck never realised his full potential because of muggery.
wangs78
Legend
They are similar with Bird having the better forehand and Zverev the better backhand. In the last few weeks though, Zverev's showcased a very potent serve. It remains to be seen if that serve holds up under pressure but we all know Bird succumbs to pressure very predictably. Zverev also moves better and has better touch shots.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Mostly because of big4
Mugu
Rookie
i think that's happening right now...
Nadalgaenger
G.O.A.T.
Better player: Sampras or Agassi?
Such is the gap between the two right now. In a few years, this question will be more like:
Better player: Federer or Agassi?
Such is the gap between the two right now. In a few years, this question will be more like:
Better player: Federer or Agassi?
Thundergod
Hall of Fame
There will be something seriously wrong if he doesn't end up better than a 2nd tier player of another generation.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
Losing to B4 is not an excuse for just not playing well enough. Berdych displayed anything like championship tennis really on two occasions (speaking of GS), Wim '10 (chokey final, but Nadal was prime so that was a factor) and AO '12. USO '12 was good until it got windy, Berdych had nothing on Murray under the wind.
I Am Finnish
Bionic Poster
Right now it is Z
ibbi
G.O.A.T.
If you are insinuating that Zverev will end up another Berdych... Well, I guess I could see it, but I sure hope not. 
Berdych had quite a bit of that sort of arrogance that people get on Sascha's case for in his younger days. He pissed Madrid off something fierce back in 2005. Of course Zverev has certainly eclipsed him on that front, he's also eclipsed him when it comes to accomplishments at this stage in their respective careers. What remains to be seen is if he'll do the same going forward. We can but hope.
Berdych had quite a bit of that sort of arrogance that people get on Sascha's case for in his younger days. He pissed Madrid off something fierce back in 2005. Of course Zverev has certainly eclipsed him on that front, he's also eclipsed him when it comes to accomplishments at this stage in their respective careers. What remains to be seen is if he'll do the same going forward. We can but hope.
Zverev has the potential to be a lot better than Berdych mainly because of his movement and rock solid backhand. Many players improve their forehands but a weak backhand can follow you for an entire career. And Zverev's movement for his height is the best we've ever seen, IMO.
Right now it's kind of an apples to oranges comparison since one is starting their career and one is nearly done, especially since Berdych's main achievement has been his consistency over the years. But I think within the next couple years Zverev will pull way ahead of Berdych in big titles count.
Right now it's kind of an apples to oranges comparison since one is starting their career and one is nearly done, especially since Berdych's main achievement has been his consistency over the years. But I think within the next couple years Zverev will pull way ahead of Berdych in big titles count.
NatF
Bionic Poster
If you are insinuating that Zverev will end up another Berdych... Well, I guess I could see it, but I sure hope not.
Berdych had quite a bit of that sort of arrogance that people get on Sascha's case for in his younger days. He pissed Madrid off something fierce back in 2005. Of course Zverev has certainly eclipsed him on that front, he's also eclipsed him when it comes to accomplishments at this stage in their respective careers. What remains to be seen is if he'll do the same going forward. We can but hope.
Not doubt Zverev will achieve more, my question more was how do their games stack up against each other so far.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Me defending Berdych, PCB, Dimitrov on this forum:
Me saying Goffin has done nothing compared to Zverev:
Breathing on TTW:
Praising Federer:
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
Praise the goatMe defending Berdych, PCB, Dimitrov on this forum:
Me saying Goffin has done nothing compared to Zverev:
Breathing on TTW:
Praising Federer:
*bleats away*
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
That's true. Also completely out of Zverev's control too though. Better to be lucky AND good I suppose, lol.
West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
Agree. There's nothing mechanically wrong with Zverev's FH - he probably just either goes for too much or changes his mind at the last minute. A few more big wins and the confidence that comes with it and that will go away. Wawrinka and Gasquet each built decent FHs eventually.
D
Deleted member 733170
Guest
Is this OP’s tacit acknowledgment that Berdych’s game stacks up better than Roddick’s?
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
No it doesn't.
Druss
Hall of Fame
You left out mental strength. It is an important aspect of what makes a great player and shouldn't be overlooked.
Berdych was/is a mental midget.
Mental strength: Zverev >>>> Birdman.
Zverev is more of a complete player, hence why I voted him.
PS: I think the FH is a tie at this stage.
Plamen1234
Hall of Fame
Zverev.Yes Berdych have better results in Slams than him for now but I am sure that in few years Zverev will win Grand Slam tournament so at the end he will be the better player.Zverev is only 21 and unlike Berdych he wont need to have to face the Big 3 when they were at its prime.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
You must be joking.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Berdych's peak level was scary but unfortunately it came in 2010-2014. Zverev the joke draw vulturer can only dream of that level.
Sport
G.O.A.T.
"Vulturer"? Please be objective, not a hater. I am not a Zverev fan but let's be realistic. I don't know about peak Berdych on grass, I didn't watch too many of his grass matches.
But at least on clay it is ridicoulous to compare Berdych with Zverev. No version of Berdych has ever been so good on clay as Zverev.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
No it wasn't.
D
Deleted member 756486
Guest
I’d love to see how Zverev would do if he played against in the big 4 in their prime.
Lol.
Lol.
Dolgopolov85
G.O.A.T.
That poster started watching tennis after Berdych's peak was past him. Or maybe caught the tail end of it.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Each time a big four player lost to him at a slam it was due them being in poor form.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
mike danny
Bionic Poster
A Murray who was just to have back surgery a month later?
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
Yes Federer won Cincinnati just before this tournament not losing a set, not being broken giving Djokovic a bagel in the final and reached the QF of the US Open with ease (didn't lose more than 4 games in any set). Very poor form.
cc0509
Talk Tennis Guru
You had Nadal winning in two in the Rome final. So obviously, you think Nadal is in good form. He's been mowing through the clay competition since the FO 2017(with only a couple of missteps) and yet in the 2nd and 3rd sets yesterday, Zverev was controlling the proceedings until the untimely rain delay. Can't you give him credit for that? It's not like Nadal is in his awful 2014/15 form. Thiem and Zverev did well to beat this Nadal on clay but Thiem has trouble with consistency. Zverev doesn't appear to have that kind of trouble. Take away the rain delay and then what?
It's true that Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are aging and aren't in their primes but somebody has to have the balls to beat them even today. If it was so easy, Nadal and Federer wouldn't have split all the slam last year. Let's see if Zverev or somebody else can stop them this year from sweeping all the slams.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
In that match he was in poor form. It doesn't matter what he did in the previous rounds.
Both of Berdych's slam victories over Fed have come against a Federer in poor form.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
And Novak in his two Wimbledon losses, RAFA in AO15 and Murray on clay in 2010.
Berdych was your regular top 10 who happened to get high profile scalps a few times.
tennis_pro
Bionic Poster
2010 Wimbledon totally but Federer had no reason to lose at the 2012 US Open other than Berdych GOATing. I remember that match like it was yesterday, Berdych was serving bombs, hitting huge groundstrokes and for once was actually mentally tough. That's what I meant with peak Berdych. I have never seen Zverev play with that much authority against anyone. His forehand is too frail.
Say what you want but Berdych actually had good records against both Federer (5-3 in 2010-2013) and Murray (6-4 until early 2015) at the time and could score the odd upset against Djokovic/Nadal while often giving them close matches. You can't use the same excuse of being in poor form when you lose several times to the same player. Not to mention that in 2010-2013 the big 4 were pretty much in their primes unlike now when Murray is not playing at all, Djokovic is only showing glimpses of old form, Federer is almost 37 while Nadal pretty much remains a force on clay only.
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Dolgopolov85
G.O.A.T.
Nope, he simply was not in form which is something you would remember if you did remember it like it was yesterday. The commentators even observed how Fed was tight and slow (think he had too long a gap from his previous match) while Berdych was "free and easy" (the verbatim words the commentator used on the broadcast I watched). As to the other sentence which I have highlighted, so was Murray owning Fed in 2009-2012? If so, why did he lose in straight sets to Fed in the 2010 AO final? Of course Berdman got to score his wins over the Big 4 in MM events but at the slams they were few and far between. And if you say poor form is not an excuse, then why don't you give credit to Zverev for beating Fedovic in Masters finals and nearly beating Claydal as well yesterday?
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Zverev will be a multiple slam winner, if, and only if, he wins one. Until then he is only comparable to Berdych who was said to be a possible multiple slam winner in the day too. Hell, people say it of tons of players that win titles and just never get a GS.
But overall I think Berdych is the better player overall.
Probably posting from the court between sets.
