Sad if the Older Guys Kept Winning: Berdych

Tomas Berdych, a former top 5 player, is one of the many players to suggest that it is high time for the younger players to raise their levels of play. The Czech had a disappointing 2017, where he just made one grand slam semi-final. It has seen Berdych drop to no. 19 in the singles rankings. However, Berdych is focused and motivated, for his 2018 campaign. In an interview, he was asked if the era of the fab-4 is going to end this year.

Berdych replied: ‘Well, I think that we’re going to see with a bit of time how the season is going to go. I mean, it’s hard to say right now. But yes, I think it’s very possible. I’m not saying that it’s over, but I think it’s the nature of the process of the time and of the sport, then you can see the players being on the top 4 the whole time.

I mean, it’s absolutely normal that they are going to be era. And I think still they were pretty long time. So it was very exceptional. I think just people maybe get too spoiled of that, that they are going to say always Roger, Rafa, Andy, and we cannot forget Stan won also three Slams.

Speaking of the 2018 season Berdych said it was quite possible that we might have a new champion at the slams. ‘The guys having great results and really being consistent for so many years. I think I can count myself also to one of them there. But that’s how it is. I think it would be very sad if we would be dominating for the whole time and there will be no other young guys coming up.’ He also added-‘I think we just get to the stage where they reach a pretty high level which they are going to be definitely competitive to get a chance to win a Slam. And I think it’s going to be a very interesting year ahead of us.’

On his chances of winning a slam Berdych thinks it is still possible.

‘You know, been trying very hard, been close to that. Unfortunately, the result didn’t come up yet. But it’s hard to say, you know when my ranking drops a little bit if it’s — if now I can feel more confident. Actually, it shouldn’t be like that, right, if you are on top. When I was No. 4 in the world, probably that would be a better moment for me to be talking about winning some Slam and being one of them. But I think that’s the beauty of our sport that no matter where you are, you still have a big chance.’

With the long injury list that keeps growing, Berdych has a chance of proving his worth at the slams in 2018.