2010 Mubadala World Tennis Championship: Review – Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych
Who would have thought of it! History repeated itself and that too in the same year. Tennis fans in Abu Dhabi caught a glimpse of what had transpired at the Wimbledon final match in June. Playing at the three-day exhibition event,
Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Tomas Berdych met Wimbledon rival Rafael “Rafa” Nadal for their semi final match.
Coming from a superb season, Nadal ended the year on a high note adding another win to his year’s decorated performance. Rafa finished the season ranked first in the world with seven titles and two final appearances coupled with
an impressive 71-10 win loss mark. Other than pulling out of the Australian Open due to an injury, Nadal had successful runs at all the other Grand Slams of the year - winning at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open. He also managed three Masters titles
in the year winning them at Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome. His last title win of the 2010 season came in his debut appearance at the Tokyo event. Nadal also completed his Career Grand Slam after the US Open win thus, becoming the second male since Andre Agassi
to complete a Career Golden Slam. The number one Spaniard also won several accolades for his career best season including the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship award and the BBC Overseas Personality of the Year award.
Berdych, on the other hand, finished the season with no title wins and only two final appearances, at Wimbledon and the Miami Masters. His win loss mark for the season was 45-26. Although the achievements might suggest that there
is nothing impressive about the Czech’s 2010 season, one must give him credit for making it to sixth position in the world and in effect securing a spot for himself in the season finale.
As evidence suggested, the match followed the usual trend with the Spaniard emerging as the dominant player. Winning the toss, Berdych opted to serve first, going into a 2-1 lead. What followed next was the longest game of the
match with six deuces. Nadal, however, managed a 2-2 score. Winning games on their respective serves, the score was tied until 4-4. The 23-year-old Spaniard broke Berdych’s service in the ninth game and won the tenth on his own thus, securing a 6-4 win in
the first set.
Going into the second set, Nadal rushed into a 4-1 lead breaking Berdych’s service twice. Trying to bounce back, Berdych won the next three of four games. However, serving for the twentieth game, Nadal managed another 6-4 win.
This was the first straight set win of the event.
Last year Nadal had won the championship defeating Robin Soderling in the finals. Nadal, being the defending champion, had received an automatic bye into the semis. Winning against Berdych, Nadal goes on to meet Swiss maestro Roger
Federer in the final on New Year’s Day. Clash of the titans! No one could have asked for a better start into 2011.
Tags: