Right from the outset it was easy to remember why Berdych is always a threat; he likes to take the ball early, returns very well, and plays almost as fast as the Swiss maestro. In fact, in his first service game he rushed to net for a volley into the open court to set up 2 break point chances. Federer saved the first, but then dumped a slice into the net to give the early break for 1-2. Unfazed, Federer was quick to pounce on a short ball in the ensuing game to earn 2 break chances as well. Berdych returned the favor with a forehand going long to give the break right back. In the 6th game, the tall Czech double faulted to bring the game to deuce. Perhaps the longest game of the match, Federer wowed the crowd with a huge forehand winner to go to deuce #2. Under pressure just 2 points later, Berdych double faulted again for deuce #3. He regained control with a crucial ace for ad in, but then Federer snuck up to net with a volley Berdych couldn’t chase down for deuce #4. Another ace, followed by another error off the backhand for deuce #5. Finally on ad in Federer comes to net again but this time he completely overhits a volley easily 2 feet out. Berdych got away with one, and he knew it. The match then stayed on serve until the 10th game, when Tomas missed a volley wide to face break chance. Indeed, his net game was quite dismal today, winning only 9 out of 25 trips. But for now he saved the game with a big serve down the T, and it was back on serve at 5-5. IN the next game Federer mixed things up with a dropshot which although Berdych chased down, he then put away the easy volley for 6-5. Another hold, and the match went to tiebreak. Up 1-0 Federer came in to net again, one of the 29 trips he would take in this match, and Berdych’s shot went wide for 0-2. He steadied himself and blasted a huge serve for 1-2, but the mini break remained. The GOAT carried the momentum by staying aggressive, and hit a huge backhand winner down the line to go up 4-1. at 6-4 Berdych’s shot hit the net cord and bounced just out to lose the set.
Not discouraged, the 1.96M tall Czech knew he could serve his way out of trouble. But what he forgot about was his net game. In the very first game of the 2nd set, he had Federer way out wide by the alley from a big serve, but as he came to net to finish the point, he dumped the ball right into the net to face break point already. The very next point he found himself at net once more, and Federer took advantage with a passing shot down the line for the early lead right away. As anyone else on tour can attest to, this was very bad news. Even worse, he then had 2 very close challenges that both went against him to take the game to deuce. He finally managed to hold for 1-2. The two then exchanged big serves for the next couple of games, as they had done throughout the match. For those watching, it was clear there would not be many long points to witness. Both players much preferred the 1-2 punch style set up by a good first serve. In the 7th game, Berdych hit a forehand long to face break point. Federer then quickly made him run way out wide into the alley on the next ball for an easy volley into the open court, which Tomas could barely get his racket on. Down 2-5 already, the Swiss player wasted no time and served out the set 6-4.
In his first service game of the 3rd set, Federer hit a forehand wide to face break point. He followed it up with a big serve to take it to deuce, but then shanked a backhand. It was Berdych’s turn to hit a winner down the line, and he took the lead for 2-0. In an exact mirror image of the 1st set however, he then dumped a backhand into the net, and yet another double fault to hand the break right back. His 5 double faults for this match would prove to be costly. Federer thanked his gesture by holding at love to take it back on serve at 2-2. One other interesting note: unlike most other players on tour, Federer elected to change rackets for the 3rd time this match. (For those less passionate fans out there: Federer’s frames have different set ups designed for serving vs. returning.) In the 6th game, Berdych reminded the crowd of how he pulled off his big upset against the Swiss at Wimbeldon with a huge service return winner. At 15-40, Federer stepped up to the occasion with a big serve to set up the winning point. Then he went even bigger for an outright ace. He brushed aside memories of that upset with a backhand pass to hold at 3-3. As if to emphasize the point, Federer then did what only Federer can: he held his next service game in under 60 seconds. This show of dominance may have rattled Berdych, who dumps a rather easy forehand into the net to go down 0-40. But he managed to save all 3 break points with attacking tennis, showing why he is a constant in the top 10. Then a crazy close backhand is called out, and for once the challenge went his way this match to give him deuce instead of the break to Federer to serve out the match. But Federer had already made up his mind. He responded with a big forehand winner for break chance #4, and this time Berdych got tight and dumps forehand into the net to give the break after all. After so many clutch points won off his powerful shots, he picked the worst time to decelerate his swing. The next game saw Federer emphatically closing out the match, with only one point won from Berdych’s side. As both players met at net, the Czech was all smiles, and they shared a sincere handshake.
