Berdy does it again.

Didn't see a thread about this, but did anyone see Tomas alienate a crowd again? He refused to shake hands with El Mugro after the match. It was a bit pathetic, ok he'd been hit earlier on but that's a bit girlie.

Not a patch on his brilliant one man attack on the whole Madrid audience a few years ago.

Yes I saw it. It was all a bit silly really. I should think he is now regretting what he did. Shame that it over-shadowed the match as it was a cracker.

I read somewhere that Berdych was also irked by Almagro's decision to take an injury time out, perhaps both of those happening pushed Berdych too far.

Anyway, tennis needs a few villains and i'm glad Berdych is providing it!

I just think its such a step dwn from hs brilliant assault in Madrid.

I like Berdy, he's like Lendl in personality I think.

One thing I would say is that the fans took the booing a bit too far. Fine boo him whilst he packed up his kit but to boo him throughout his on-court interview was just taking it a little too far in my opinion. Credit to him though for a solid performance and could take a set or two from Rafa but still see Nadal winning.

These are the same fans, that booed Dolgo for daring to get upset about that 'appeal 'incident against Tomic

Amazingly, they make the rest of the home fans at the other slams, look positively fair minded

Berdy miscalculated. He's now gonna face a hostile crowd as well as Nadal - as if that wasn't enough!

I'd be surprised to see anything but a comfortable win for Nadal. Berdy doesn't handle Rafa's spin very well and his long swing on the FH prevents him from taking the ball early so he gets pushed far behind the baseline by the topspin and ends up getting run ragged.

There could be more into this than just his problem with Almagro, I think he might be trying to make Nadal a bit mad as he's obviously a good friend of Nicolas. He can't really be soft enough to not shrug off a tennis ball hit on the arm, can he?

The funny thing is that i heard a few commentators say he's such a friendly guy off court.. I should have found out myself when i was standing right next to him at the Rotterdam tournament. I didn't bother to ask for an autograph. I just said 'hi', and he said 'hi' back


So much for the non-info..

Cahill, on ESPN, said that Almagro was trying to win the point, not deliberately targeting Berdych.

This happens much more often in doubles with one player of the doubles pair looking to poach a volley at the net.

Berdych probably forgot his doubles days with Stepanek.

laverfan wrote:Cahill, on ESPN, said that Almagro was trying to win the point, not deliberately targeting Berdych.

This happens much more often in doubles with one player of the doubles pair looking to poach a volley at the net.

Berdych probably forgot his doubles days with Stepanek.

Isn't trying to win the point and deliberately targeting Berdych one and the same thing i.e. best chance to win the point was to hit the ball as hard as possible at his opponent.

Thomas should have offered his hand though - he could always have looked away to show his displeasure.

A shot at the body is the best chance of winning a point otherwise the entire court is open for the shot to be returned. If Berdych had stayed back, he could have even won the point, if the same shot was Almagro's choice.

If you look at this clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzOfFhvuyYw

Almagro stands at the net with an apology and Berdych, without any acknowledgement, mouths a f*** after looking into his box. Berdych took his eyes off the ball, a cardinal sin for a tennis player at his level.

I have no sympathy for Berdych in this incident.

A bit feeble really.

laverfan wrote:
I have no sympathy for Berdych in this incident.

I am with you there...especially as I saw Berdych do it too in the past.

I'm sure Berdych has been hit before and shaked the mans hand after a match, there is probably more to it than just being tagged by a ball. Berdych clearly didn't like Almagro before the match.

Everything is fine as long as it doesnt end up very serious, yes we need some villans, players are too good and very friendly, we need Johny Mac's connors and Roddicks to get more interesting gimmicks.