Tomas Berdych may have joined the group of players aged over thirty on the tour last month, but the Czech showed no signs of slowing as he defeated teenager Alexander Zverev in straight sets 6-3, 6-4.
Berdych started the match well, holding and then breaking Zverev through dominating the baseline exchanges. A love service hold saw Berdych register three games before Zverev had another chance to get on the scoreboard. That the young German did, demonstrating a willingness to come forward and volley, also taking more initiative in points on his own serve, as he overcame the early shock of losing his opening service game.
Though Zverev had settled down with his own serve, there was little he was able to do against his opponent’s. Berdych found more rhythm, holding to thirty and fifteen through predictable, but uncompromising baseline solidity. The Czech, who confirmed his place in London for the O2 last week, threatened to break at five-two, earning deuce after picking short balls from Zverev. With his first serve deserting him, Zverev fired long on a forehand to give Berdych a break and set chance. The serve returned for a point, with Berdych netting the return. A double fault followed, but Zverev again followed with another great serve, and finally held when Berdych missed two backhands.
Berdych then suffered his first real lapse of the set, with two more errors giving Zverev hope of levelling up. A Berdych serve got him to fifteen-thirty, when Zverev missed a return. It prompted Zverev to launch a furious tirade claiming it was in, but was too late to challenge. Berdych hit two big serves, one an ace on second serve, to earn a set point. He missed with a down-the-line backhand but he served cleanly from deuce to take the opening set.
Zverev continued his complaints about the call in between sets, as he took a medical time-out for what appeared to be a left hamstring injury.
Zverev held to start proceedings in set two, and then looked to break Berdych. The big Czech dove to try and pick up a Zverev passing shot, but was rewarded only with a knock to his left wrist in the fall. A rattled Berdych then fell love-forty behind. Berdych saved one with a trademark serve down the tee, but double-faulted on the second break chance and Zverev led in set two. He held for the three love lead, having dropped just a point in each of the three games of the second set.
Berdych held and then returned to parity, breaking to fifteen when Zverev netted a backhand rallying ball. Again Berdych fell into trouble, a big forehand miss handed Zverev love-thirty again. Berdych rediscovered his dominant serving, two aces ensuring the Czech made it three-all. Zverev failed to serve his next game out at forty-thirty, missing wide with a forehand. Berdych then broke, returning from a seemingly losing position to take the break, and lead in the second set. Zverev staged a furious battle to reach four-all, but handed the break straight back. Berdych finally served out to fifteen to advance to the quarter-finals.
Earlier results saw the progress of two frenchman. Richard Gasquet saw his opponent Steve Darcis retire with injury having lost the first set. Jeremy Chardy also progressed with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Federico Delbonis of Argentina.
Berdych will face the winner of Nicolas Almagro and Grigor Dimitrov.
