Interview with Tomas Berdych before
his match with Rafael Nadal for the Wimbledon 2010 Final
Wimbledon 2010
By LadyDragon
WIMBLEDON, United
Kingdom --(LadyDragon.com)
03/07/10--Interview
with Tomas Berdych before his match with Rafael Nadal for
the Wimbledon 2010 Final
Q. How was your
practice today and are you feeling good?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah. I mean, the practice was pretty
good. I mean, I was expecting that I'll be a little bit
tired. But, you know, I felt I would say much better than
yesterday with my warmup, which is pretty good sign for
Sunday.
Q. Will you sleep well tonight?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I hope so. I mean, I have no problem
with the sleeping at all. I did it after yesterday's
match, after Roger's match, so I hope it's going to be
the same for tonight.
Q. What's been the difference in this Grand Slam
compared to ones in previous years? Why have you
particularly done so well this time, do you feel?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I mean, it's just many things. I
mean, it's not only like this year, this Grand Slam. I
mean, it's more things. I mean, I was saying it so many
times that I get really improved, get more and more
confidence, you know, after semis in Paris.
You know, just give me the point of view that there is a
really chance, you know, to play, beat all those top
players. You know, starts since the first round, and I'm
in the final so far. So still one more to go.
Q. What makes you think you can beat Nadal when he's
probably playing the best tennis of anybody at the
moment? Do you believe you have something in your game
plan that can stop him?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, of course I have some, you know -- I
mean, I have no reason to, you know, just to believe I
have a chance. I mean, I won so many matches here. I beat
really great players here.
So it gives you the confidence to go and bring it to the
final and try my best again on court. You know, that's
the final of Grand Slam. You just really needs to show
your really best tennis to have a chance to win.
Q. Will you have any fear, apart from the normal
nerves you would experience on a big match?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I mean, yeah, of course is a big
final. But I would say for me really like new experience
was the semis in French Open where it was, you know, like
the first experience with that.
And, you know, I just learn a lot from that match, and I
hope I can really just, you know, turn it here for the
final. I hope it's just not going to be any more special
than the other matches. You know, I will try to be really
concentrate for just my game, for my points, and not to
be thinking about the occasions, the finals, you know,
playing Nadal.
So I hope not.
Q. You've beaten Nadal already at the beginning of
your encounters three times. In the last six matches, you
have lost. What happened? How are you planning to change
that trend?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, you know, it doesn't happen every
match that you beat first or second player in the world.
So, you know, at least I beat him three times.
Because, you know, as you can see his records against
another guys, it's even worse than this one. So, you
know, at least I have a three wins against him, and I can
just find out some positive things from those matches.
You know, I will try to do the fourth one here. You know,
I never beat him on grass, so I think it's nice
opportunity to do it right here right now.
Q. Is the key to beating Rafa to be as aggressive as
possible?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I mean, this time I think so,
because he starts to play really aggressive, as well. You
know, I mean, the first years I was playing him, yeah, he
played his game. He was really patient on court, moving
well. I think he was quite waiting for opponent's
mistake.
But, you know, last like two, three years, he starts to
play really, really aggressive, as well. That's what he's
doing right here, as well.
So, yeah, you needs to be aggressive, don't give him too
many chances, you know, and play my game. My game is to
be aggressive on court.
Q. A couple weeks ago when you arrived at Wimbledon,
what were your expectations? You saw the draw. What did
you think was going to happen? Did you dream you could
get to the final?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I mean, I'm gonna say the same what
I did before my first round. You know, I was just looking
for my first opponent in the first round, you know, to
beat him and make the same procedure for the next one.
So right now I'm still waiting till one more to go, and
I'm going to same, as well. Yeah, of course everyone who
comes to the tournament wants to make the best results.
But it's not going to be good if you're going to come and
say, Yeah, I want to be in the final.
Of course, it's nice to be in the final and win the
tournament, but to be there, you need to won so many
matches, so many tough matches. You don't know what's
gonna happen even next day.
So go step by step. I'm still one more to go.
Q. Would it be fair to say the last couple of weeks
have been a bit of a dream for you?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I wouldn't say 'dream'. It's a good
results. But the results coming after really hard work,
and that's what I'm doing. That's why I'm preparing every
day.
You know, so it's not like happening as a miracle. You
need to do something to bring those good results. That's
what I'm doing.
So I don't think it's just, you know, kind of luck or
anything like that.
Q. When you beat Nadal in Spain in 2006, there was a
bit of an altercation with the crowd and you told them to
be quiet. Rafa didn't seem to like that. Have you ever
spoken with him or apologized?
TOMAS BERDYCH: No, it's really long time ago, and I think
it's already forgotten from both or all sides, you know,
who saw it, what happened there.
So, I mean, we never talk about that each other. I think
it was quite just, I would say quite a lot of emotions
after the match from both of us. Also from him, from me.
You know, that's just what happens sometimes.
I don't see it any big problems. I mean, we are friends
normally. Nothing like that we not gonna say hi to each
other or anything like that. It's just really nice. It's
all right.
Q. How much of an inspiration is Ivan Lendl, given
what he achieved in his career?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, of course, I mean, it's great what
he did, what he achieved. I mean, so many great results.
I mean, I'm really only the beginning of his great
results. You never know what's gonna happen next.
But, you know, I'm still pretty young, and so far I just,
you know, made the same what he did: the final of
Wimbledon. Unfortunately he never won the title here.
But, you know, I'm still gonna get the chance tomorrow,
and we will see.
Q. It seems in the last year or so you seem to have
become much stronger mentally. Part of that will be
confidence. But are there any other factors that have
changed your personality? Is it just growing up? What
would it be?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I think it's as you just I would say
mentioned all of those things. It's just stronger
mentally, you know, winning more and more matches. That
gives you a lot of confidence. Of course, I'm growing up,
as well. I'm still pretty young, so getting more and more
experience every week.
But, of course it's the part of the work of my coaches.
You know, I change my tennis coach like in the season
before this year, so quite two years ago. Yeah, the first
year is always like to find out how is gonna work and
everything.
And this one, it starts pretty well. I think he just find
out the weak parts of my game and he just see it maybe
from the other point of view and find out what's to do
better and just working on those things.
Q. Has Lucie made a difference to that, too?
TOMAS BERDYCH: We are quite a long time together, so I
don't think it just change in the last year.
Q. What sort of reaction have you had so far? Any good
luck messages for tomorrow?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Oh, of course I'm getting -- after every
match I won here, I'm getting so many, like, phone calls
and text messages with congratulations just from friends.
Yeah, I mean, it's really nice to have that, you know,
support and that so many people in Czech just trying to
follow it, just want to see those matches.
Yeah, I think it's just really nice to have that.
Q. Lendl been in touch?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah. Well, actually we didn't spoke each
other like yet. But, of course I getted the messages from
other people that they talk with him. So I'm getting the
message as well from him.
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