Men's tennis is back to its established order, says Tomas Berdych.
The 28-year-old Czech had previously pointed to Stanislas Wawrinka's victory at the Australian Open as an indication that the Big Four's grip on the game was loosening. But after Rafael Nadal's French Open victory and Novak Djokovic's win at Wimbledon, he sees things returning to the way they were.
"There are three guys staying up there,” Berdych said at Washington, DC. “There was one change with Stan getting up there by winning the Slam at the beginning of the year. You really need to win a Slam to get there. Stan had a great run in Australia.
"Then Rafa and Novak. Nothing really changed after that. I wouldn’t say it’s really open there. It was just the moment Stan jumped up and took it. I think it’s back to the old lines like it was before."
But the world No. 5 has been one of the most consistent contenders trying to break through, reaching the 2010 Wimbledon final and three Grand Slam semifinals, and is still taking up the challenge.
"I’m trying to do my best, working hard for that every day. To keep that position for a few years is a good result for me. Just to hang in there is not easy at all," he said. "If there’s a recipe to do it, I would like to know it."