The first big upset of the US Open. Tomas lost in straights to Llodra.

I still cannot believe Berdych is out of the USO. He had such amazing runs at RG and Wimbledon that I guess
I was expecting the same to happen now. I don’t know what happened there, if it were the high expectations,
an injury or Llodra’s serve. Maybe a combination of everything.

Honestly, there’s not much to say. It was only the second time this season that Tomas has lost in the opening round at a tour-level event. Llodra saved all three break points he faced and was able to convert two of the eight chances created. He served and volleyed like a mad man. Insane stuff. Berdych really didn’t get the chance to play his game.

Also, let me just say Michael Llodra is an idiot. I’ll explain. Apparently he got really pissed that Isner didn’t withdraw from USO because that would have given him a seeded place in the draw. Seriously. What a nice opportunity he lost to keep his mouth shut.

And in other news, this totally opens the draw for Muzz. Seriously, if he doesn’t reach SF now, there’s no hope for him (No pressure!). So, get yourself together, dude. Just do your thing.

I’m not a Fed fan, and I’m not a Berd KAD. But let’s write a post from the view points of both, shall we?

It’s been a tough year to be a FedKAD. His Majesty Of The Golden Stroke won the Australian Open, but has struggled since then. He lost to Bags in Indian Wells and Berd in Miami… after having match points in both. At the French, he lost to Sod, who he beat in the final the previous year (he also lost his slam semi streak) and then fell again to big hitter Berd in the quarters of Wimbledon. Devastating.

The match tonight?

One of huge importance. He’d tee off against Thunderdome, a guy who had beaten him three times before, and in the two previous meetings. Under the lights in Toronto with a packed house? A pretty big deal.

That’s why such a huge mental victory over such a tough opponent is a huge deal heading into the US Open. Fed has his break chance in the second set to close out the match easily, and couldn’t. He shanked on set point and was forced into a third. And even against the wall at 3-5, he managed to break, stay alive, and eventually win the match in a tiebreak with the weight of an enthusiastic, pro-Federer crowd. One he will likely receive in Flushing Meadows. Will this match finally give him the confidence to beat tall, big hitters like Del Potro and Berdych? Only time will tell.

…Right. Berd?

It’s been a pretty kickass year for Tomas Berdych. Beating Federer in Miami, making the semis of the French, and then beating Federer again in the quarters of Wimbledon and making the final? I like.

Berdych hit the court tonight against Federer tonight, and while he eventually lost in Toronto, there are a lot of positives to take out of this match.

Firstly, his mental strength. A huge improvement this year, it’s been fantastic all week. Down 0-30, Berd hit back to back huge serves, both followed by a relaxing, self-massage shrug. He’s clearly comfortable and encouraged by his coach, and confident in his game and plan.

Secondly, his forehand. T-Berd possesses wicked racquet head speed, and with his “whip” approach to the ball, he kept Fed guessing, whether it was on out wide forehands or low slices, he was off balance. Even better, it was working. Berd was nailing winners he should have hit, and creating angles and other winners many players would never bother with.

Thirdly, he’s beaten Fed before and can play with the big boys. Slams are five sets, y’all. If Toronto was a slam, they would still be on court, and there would be a lot more to be said. Berd knows how to throw down.

So while a blown chance at another victory over Fed may come as a stinging blow to camp Berdych, not all is so evil in the long run. Watch out for Thunderbird in the USO, there’s a lot to still be done.

Um… so there you go. Debate in the comments? I dunno. Big win for Fed, a lot of positives for Berd. Gonna be a crazy USO. Can these guys be in the same half in New York?

Q. Pau Gasol wanted me to say hola to you. Congratulations. Can you compare this to what he did, back‑to‑back Lakers championships and your own as well, two straight here at Wimbledon for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: Thanks a lot. Everything is difficult, and very difficult compare, two different sports, no? But I am in contact with him all the time. For sure to have unbelievable sportsman like Pau inside the court, inside the court and outside the court is very, very good for our country.

Q. How does it feel to be so popular with the crowd here at Wimbledon?
RAFAEL NADAL: You know, probably is the best crowd of the world, no? More respect. They have a lot of respect for every player, I think.
If I speak about myself, was always amazing with me, the crowd, especially yesterday or two days ago when I played against Andy Murray, a British player. For sure the crowd support him, but the same time was supporting me a lot, no? That’s unbelievable. Just can say thank you very much.

Q. How hungry are you regarding winning the US Open? How important is it for you to win the US Open, as well?
RAFAEL NADAL: Right now I’m very happy to win Wimbledon. Yeah (smiling). We gonna think about US Open in one month. Right now we just relax and enjoy for me this amazing season.
Was very difficult for me to be back at my best. I did, so is very important and emotional moment for me. I want to enjoy that. For sure, keep working to try to be in the US Open finally ready to try to win. But for sure US Open gonna be one of my goals for rest of my career.
But right now is enjoy the beach, fishing, golf, friends, party, and Mallorca.
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Before 2010, it wasn’t easy being T-Berd. He was called out as a wasted talent. Unfit. Awkward. A guy who just couldn’t get his act together. Mentally? A mess. There were too many things out of place for such a big guy for everything to all come together at once.

Then all of a sudden they did. Four quarterfinal appearances at the beginning of the year led to an unlikely win over Fed in the fourth round of Miami, and then wins over Fer and Sod as he marched all the way to the final of that very event. Then an even more unlikely semifinal berth at Roland Garros, followed up by this run to the final at Wimbledon. Wasted talent no more. He’ll jump to a career high rank of number 8 on Monday, and according to my sources, is third overall in the race to the World Tour Finals.

After his Wimbley run, he’s decided to skip Davis Cup this upcoming weekend. Good call, dude. Throw your feet up, it’s well deserved.

I’d also like to throw out Tomas’ new nickname, in honour of his name and Mary Carillo’s “Berdych is turning centre court into thunderdome!”. Thunderbird! It seems only fitting. The car is often initialed “T-Bird”, and considering you have T-Berd, and turned Wimbledon into thunderdome, I figure you’ve earned the “thunder” part now. Well done.

Few people ever get the chance to play for a grand slam championship title. Even fewer get two. But both of those in the same day? Well fuck me.

After a terrible, injury filled past 12-18 months, the sun finally seemed to be shining for poor Bepa. In what was easily the biggest day in her career, maybe her whole life, she’d get the chance to play for both the singles and doubles championships. How fitting then, was it that it ended in a cruel, Bepa like torture.

Well, the good news is that she won a slam doubles title in 2006, and both Wimbledon and the US Open in mixed. And your career is finally back on track, and you’re back in the top 10. Where you deserve. Have a good hard court season, girl.

Weapons: Big serving, able to adapt his game to different surfaces, successful year.
Weaknesses: Proven headcase, tall.

Oddly enough, the only time T-Berd had made it past the fourth round of a slam before Roland Garros this year was at Wimbledon in 2007. That’s it. Perhaps Berd’s most impressive trait is not his ability to serve big or hit a solid forehand, but his ability to adapt to surfaces this year. Making the Miami final would make sense for his game, but he also had a successful clay season and made the Roland Garros semis. Filled with confidence, he should come out bombs away for Wimbledon.

How about T-Berd? Beat Fed, made the Miami final, now he’s gotten himself into the RG semifinal. Hot damn.

He teed off against Youz, and took him out 3, 1 and 2. I still think that Jo would have beat Youz if he was feeling well, but the props must go to Berd. In heavy conditions, he basically hit through Youz, and has yet to lose a set. He’s put himself in a position to win, and is using the huge serve and a consistent forehand to play an impressive clay court game. He’s also a pretty fantastic mover, considering how huge he is. Everyone is already looking forward to a Sod/Rafa final, but Berd has been in absolute cruise control, don’t count him out just yet. Semifinal Friday is gonna be awesome.

Damn, that was some crazy, angry sex.

Bloody impressive effort from Berd today. He’s gone and had himself a pretty solid and impressive clay season, considering he’s typically thought of as a big server and thus not a huge clay favourite. He’s shown great patience, however, and built off that forehand and a great start to the season.

To be honest, I gave Muzz a better shot at this. He’s been playing better on clay, specifically taking more intitative instead of waiting for openings to present themselves. Berd pretty well hit through him and played a great clay game and took it pretty easily in straights. Of course Muzz was less than impressed with conditions and was dishing out some great verbal abuse… of himself. So that really helped.

Dick played a strong, smart (*gasp*) match against T-Berd to take his first Masters title since 2006 (Cincy… other weird fact, he’s never made a Masters final outside of North America). A long time coming for Andy, who has been rock solid the past two tournaments are really deserved one, beating Rafa and Fed-killer Big Berd.

Dick said after the match that he knew he needed a different plan against Berd, and that slicing was the way to go. It worked, as he broke in both sets (the first game of the second) and then could hammer away with the serve to take the match. Good call dude. Oh, and this happened.

Also, this happened:

Heh heh.