‘I Think I Nailed It’: Tomas Berdych on Him Being Different From Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

In the men’s game, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are the gold standard against which every player is judged. The manner in which each of them has transformed their games over the years and their incredible longevity on the Tour is commendable. 

Recently, former tennis star Tomas Berdych was asked about his decision to retire at 34 in light of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic’s continuing involvement. The Czech star decided to call it a day after the 2019 season. 

However, he has no regrets about stepping away from the sport despite seeing Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic still go at it. He spoke on this subject and stated, “I think I nailed it at the perfect spot. If you keep pushing over a certain period, especially at the end, it could change your view of your whole career. I’ve never had a doubt for a moment. I woke up that morning and thought: that’s it.” 

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are unique 

Reflecting on the big three, each of them have 20 Grand Slam titles each to their names. At the moment, Federer is 40 years old, followed by Rafa, who is 35, and Djokovic, who is 34. 

Coming to Berdych, the 36-year-old had a long and distinguished career with 982 singles matches and 13 career titles. Having beaten all of the big three during his career, he was unfortunate not to win a Grand Slam title. He won 13 titles during his career and made it to the semifinal of all four Grand Slam events. In 2010, he was the finalist at the Wimbledon Championships, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. 

Now that the current season is over, we wish the big three all the best for the upcoming 2022 season. With all three on 20 Grand Slam titles each, it will be interesting to see how things unfold next year. 

Watch this story: The Journey of Roger Federer to the Elite Billionaire’s Club