Like Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka, Berdych is another member of the late 20s/early 30s generation that has long had a stranglehold on the ATP. Berdych, unfortunately, has experienced the pros and cons of his cohort’s domination. He has been ensconced in the Top 10 for the last five years, and he’s the only player outside the Big 4 to reach the semifinals at all four majors. Yet for all of that, he has a reputation as the game’s consummate second fiddle. And it’s not undeserved: His combined record against Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer is 12–55. He currently holds the most dubious of titles, Best Active Player Never to Win a Slam.
Despite this dismal history, there was a brief moment at the start of last season when Berdych seemed ready to shed his bridesmaid status. He hired Dani Vallverdu, Murray’s former coach, and recorded a rare win over Nadal on his way to the Australian Open semifinals. But that turned out to be the high point of Berdych’s season. Although he won 30 of his first 38 matches, reached two Masters semis and the Monte Carlo final, Berdych failed to get past the round of 16 at the last three Slams, and by season’s end he was playing second fiddle again—he went 0–3 at the ATP World Tour Finals. That exclusive event is only for the top tier, and Berdych’s results accurately reflect his place among them.
Berdych began working with Vallverdu at the start of 2015 and the results were immediate. While he couldn’t sustain that higher level of play, he and Vallverdu will come into 2016 with a better idea of what worked and what didn’t after their first year together.
In 2014 and 2015, Berdych went into mid-season slumps. Last year, he made a valiant effort to do something new, only to end up in the same place. Now he’s a year older, and the same players are still better than he is.
Last year we wondered if Berdych could improve on his No. 6 ranking. Now we should wonder whether he can hold onto it.
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