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1/22/12 8:34 AM | Ricky Dimon
Tomas Berdych overcomes Nicolas Almagro by winning the second, third, and fourth sets all in tiebreakers. Berdych advances to a quarterfinal clash against Rafael Nadal.
Tomas Berdych survived a high-quality, hard-fought match marred by bad blood as he defeated Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday. Berdych advanced after three hours and 54 minutes to set up a quarterfinal date with Rafael Nadal.
Little separated the two competitors throughout this contest, and that was the case right from the start. Berdych actually had better winners-to-errors numbers in the first set, but he was doomed by 47 percent serving especially because he won only 39 percent of his second-serve points. It haunted him in a dreadful game at 3-3, when Berdych gave away a break on an ill-advised drop-shot. Almagro held his next two service games for the early advantage.
Berdych raised his level in the second and neither player came close to losing serve en route to a tiebreaker. At 3-3, the world No. 7 earned a mini-break with a big forehand then took care of his serve to give himself three set points. Almagro saved two on his own serve, but Berdych put it away one point later.
Set three also progressed to a tiebreaker, although this time Berdych gave back an early break in the process. Almagro won the first point of the 'breaker only to see his opponent reel off six in a row. Again the Spaniard fought off a pair of set points on serve, but Berdych converted his third chance with a powerful forehand.
More of the same continued in the third. Both players held the entire way, but not without some drama. Almagro saved multiple match points early then Berdych dug out of a 0-40 hole at 5-5. Once again in the tiebreaker Melbourne's No. 7 seed had too much firepower and rolled through it seven points to two.
Despite winning, Berdych refused to shake Almagro's hand after the match. At 5-5, 0-30, Almagro had drilled Berdych in the shoulder with a forehand as Berdych stood almost right on top of the net. The Spaniard tried to apologize but Berdych would have none of it. As a result, the Czech was booed ferociously by the crowd throughout his post-match interview.
Berdych finished with 28 aces, four double-faults, 70 winners, and 41 unforced errors. Almagro wrapped up his effort with 16 aces, three doubles, 54 winners, and 41 errors.
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Hate sore losers but cocky winners even more... @Ricky do you think about Rafa v Berdych?
jaskarans , 1/22/12 8:45 AM
blowout city
RickyDimon , 1/22/12 9:01 AM
Very bad from Berdych :( Hope Rafa crushes him.
deuce , 1/22/12 9:06 AM
Aussie crowd should be all for Rafa and all over Berdych. Should be fun/wild.
RickyDimon , 1/22/12 9:10 AM
Berdy acted like a jerk. Almagro was on the dead run and just wanted to get his racket on the ball. He didn't hit him in the face, either. He hit him on the arm. It's a good thing he didn't play back in the 80's, because he would never have survived.
I cannot believe that Berdy was stupid enough to not shake hands with Almagro at the end. There is no way that he hit him on purpose. Even the booing from the crowd didn't get through to Berdy.
Rafa would have been favored by the Aussie crowd anyway. Now they will really be out for Berdy.
I hope Rafa kicks his butt!
Good luck, Rafa!
Nativenewyorker , 1/22/12 10:09 AM
What an idiot, chapeau to the Aussie crowd, told him exactly where to go. If they can fine Nalby for supposedly "throwing" water at an official, shouldn't they fine Berdy for unsporting behaviour?
What a prat.................
rafaisthebest , 1/22/12 10:33 AM
Sore winner. :-/
mara002 , 1/22/12 1:55 PM
Tomas Berdych makes stupid, smug choices on court and turns the Aussie crowd against him. That should make his run to the finals fun. It's amazing that a seasoned, professional athlete can be that out of touch.
Maya , 1/22/12 3:40 PM
I saw the match. Almagro was on a dead run from the baseline to get to Berdych's drop shot. I thought returning the ball on a sprint would be quite difficult but he just managed to get to it. Berdych moved forward hoping to volley when he got hit on his arm. That was a risk he took when he moved forward. To refuse to acknowledge Almagro's apology and then later on refusing to shake his hand showed Berdych's immaturity. Man up, kid! Getting hit is all part of the game!
tellimflos , 1/23/12 7:01 PM
This is what it looks like when you actually get hit in the face :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw-2vvmdHog&feature=related
smr , 1/23/12 8:34 PM
tellimflos - I agree completely. That's just flat-out childishness. No reason to act that way at all. Obviously Almagro didn't do it deliberately AND he apologized. Berdych looked like an 8-year old.
cherylmurray , 1/23/12 10:28 PM
berdych needs to get over himself, went right down in my estimation. i think almagro was aiming at him, cheryl, but so what? It's only a tennis ball not a golf ball! Whingeing off court like that with pouted lip when he's just won more than his fair share of tie-breaks to reach the QFs of a slam. deserved all he got from the honest-to-goodness aussie crowd = good for them, that was worth more than a fine;} pity they hadn't done the same with Nouni for what he did to nalby!
said my piece :-}
alex , 1/24/12 1:28 AM
well, almost ...
smr - well pointed out, a hypocrit too! And what was all that whining about almagro aiming going for his face when the ball connected 2 inches above his elbow, knocking the wimp over!
alex , 1/24/12 1:36 AM
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Tomas Berdych 
http://twitpic.com/8a8trw
RickyDimon , 1/22/12 8:40 AM