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9/10/12 2:04 AM | Johan Lindahl
Tomas Berdych says his big game was blown away in the howling winds which plagued his US Open semifinal with Andy Murray, a match which he says should never have been staged in such atrocious conditions.
But as a veteran of the Open and its unorthodox scheduling as determined by the US television gods, the Czech has just one answer to the debacle which he lost in for sets and four hours to Andy Murray: "no one cares," he said of organizers.
Berdych left New York, which will stage a delayed men's final for a fifth consecutive year due to weather and the lack of a covered show-court, with some bitterness.
"Our sport deserves to have some rule or if the conditions are like that, then you don't play," said the man who defeated Roger Federer to reach his second Grand Slam semifinal. "To play such a big event as this one - especially missing the roof - it's something to think about."
But Berdych is resigned to the renegade major continuing to fly in the face of normal scheduling to placate the TV network paymasters.
"We are here in States where they really love show. Actually, this is not about show. This is just about somehow to try to deal with the conditions and then trying to put ball over the net. Sometimes that was even impossible, but that's how it is."
Berdych blamed the wind and his own habitual high toss for much of his loss in a match in which he committed a massive 62 unforced errors. "Probably I made like 62 in all the matches before I get to the semifinals. I don't see any reason that my game would just crash.
"It's sad, I thought I had a pretty good chance. The best word I can say is that the wind blew it away from me."
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Yep, just like muzz's cap falling off caused him not to be able to reach that drop shot ... just like almagro firing the ball towards his body instead of onto his racquet head was an unfair way of winning a point ...
muzz and boo-hoo stepped into the same wind and the player with the versatility, skill and variety of shots came out on top.
Muzz lowered his ball toss, berdych couldn't. Muzz improvised with the low slice, berdych blasted 10 feet past the baseline. Muzz played differently when the wind was behind him than he did when it was facing him, berdych shook his head.
The wind did not win the match. The winner did. Full stop.
So stop being such a sore loser and, by the way, with respect to almagro, try and be a better winner too.
alex , 9/10/12 5:25 PM
the wind always helps the underdog, because it equalizes the playing field
good try, Berdych!
RickyDimon , 9/10/12 7:09 PM
Ricky's right about the wind.
#2012IndianWellsSF
Conspirator , 9/10/12 7:47 PM
"the wind always helps the underdog, because it equalizes the playing field"
Not really.
Really don't think Berdych was much of an underdog in that match (if wind hadn't been a factor), considering form and playing style. Murray plays with more margin for error than Berdych and so the wind was absolutely more of a hindrance for the czech and less so for Murray. Berdych had to play more outside his comfort zone than Murray.
willmw101 , 9/10/12 7:54 PM
Berdych was a big underdog. The wind made the match a crapshoot and he still couldn't win.
RickyDimon , 9/10/12 8:33 PM
yes wind definitely hindered Berdych more than murray Berdych has flatter ground strokes so more chances of missing when the conditions are windy.Berdych big hitting was neutralized
tennis2011 , 9/10/12 9:06 PM
Have people forgotten the 2010 quarterfinal with Rafa and Verdasco? There was a huge wind storm all day and at night on Ashe stadium it was like huge gusts of winds. I remember how much trouble they were both having with their serves and shots.
I could see the ball stop in the wind and actually be pushed back in the air. Verdasco kept catching his ball toss and looked at the chair umpire a few times in exasperation. They both had to resort to moonballing at times.
Ultimately Rafa was the one who dealt with the conditions much better than Verdasco. But that was a match where the wind was a real factor.
Berdy needs to learn how to deal with wind. I don't like the sore loser stuff from him. It's comes off as petty.
Nativenewyorker , 9/10/12 9:21 PM
You'd think after his reaction to Federer's excuses after Wimbledon 2010 he'd hold back from making any himself!
rbennett , 9/10/12 9:33 PM
No way berdych was a big underdog. In the eyes of the spectators possibly but not in Murrays or Berdych mind.
willmw101 , 9/10/12 10:38 PM
I don't think Berd was the underdog- positive H2H against Andy makes this not so.
deuce , 9/10/12 11:45 PM
Excuse maker? Yes. He's right though.
chr18 , 9/10/12 3:54 AM
Upset? No doubt because you think the title of "sore loser" belongs to Fed exclusively?
I agree.
holdserve , 9/11/12 4:17 AM
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Excuse maker? Yes. He's right though.
chr18 , 9/10/12 3:54 AM