Tomas Berdych, a former Czech professional tennis player, was known for his powerful game and consistency on the ATP Tour. While he is one of only three men, alonsgide Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Stan Wawrinka, to have beaten Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray in majors, he could never lift one of the biggest titles, being regarded as one of the best players to never win a Grand Slam.
Born in 1985, Berdych quickly made an impression on the professional tour after debuting in 2002. His first big win came against Federer at the 2004 Athens Olympics, despite having only five ATP Tour victories at the time. “Unbelievable,” he described the victory. It wouldn’t be his last upset over Federer and the other members of the Big Three, beating Djokovic and the Swiss legend in Wimbledon 2010 and Nadal at the 2015 Australian Open.
While many would consider him “unlucky” for competing in one of the toughest eras in tennis, he doesn’t think that way. “I think I was actually very, very lucky in many senses that I could, first of all, play against all of them and be part of this historical era – it was something very special and very unique – and also that they managed to get the maximum out of me. That’s how I see it,” he told tennismajors.com in 2024.
Grand Slam and Masters success
Berdych’s biggest breakthrough came at Wimbledon 2010, where he reached his only Grand Slam final. He defeated Federer in the quarterfinals and Djokovic in the semifinals before losing to Nadal in the championship match.
His consistent performances saw him reach the semifinals of all four Grand Slams, including the 2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, and 2012 US Open. He played 52 consecutive Grand Slam events until the 2016 US Open and 64 straight Masters 1000 tournaments until Montreal 2017.
At the Masters 1000 level, Berdych secured his biggest career title in Paris (2005), defeating Ivan Ljubicic in the final. He also finished as a runner-up at five other Masters tournaments, including Miami, Madrid, Monte Carlo, and two Shanghai finals. In total, he secured 13 top titles.
Berdych also was a key player in the Czech Republic’s back-to-back Davis Cup victories in 2012 and 2013, teaming up with Radek Stepanek. He played a major role in the country’s success, reaching the 2009 final as well, and holds an impressive 50-17 record in singles and 21-2 in doubles.
Retirement and legacy
Berdych retired from professional tennis in 2019 due to a persistent back injury. The 34-year-old confirmed his decision at the ATP Finals, saying his body no longer allowed him to compete at the highest level. “Even the final that I lost, it was a very, very special moment,” he reflected on his Wimbledon run, according to Tennis.com.
Since retiring, Berdych has been at peace with his career. “I know that I’ve done the maximum that I possibly could. And unfortunately, I ended up with zero Slams, but it’s all right; I’m at peace with myself. And that’s the most important thing in the end, actually. I take it. Could I have done some things differently? Probably yes, but I don’t know what (he laughs). It didn’t happen,” he told tennismajors.com in 2024.
However, in 2023, the Czech accepted to join Jiri Lehecka’s coaching team, before they split their partnership in September 2024. He also accepted to become Davis Cup captain, taking over the role from Jaroslav Navratil, who captained the team for almost 20 years.
Berdych may not have a Grand Slam title, but his impact on the sport and his ability to challenge the greatest players of all time make him one of the most respected figures in Czech tennis history.