2011 Open 13: Tomas Berdych vs. Edouard Roger-Vasselin – Preview
World number seven, Czech, Tomas Berdych, begins his campaign in the 2011 Open 13 in Marseille, France, on Thursday as he takes on the French qualifier, Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Making it into the top ten last June after making it to the final of the 2010 Wimbledon Championship, Berdych has been trying to retain his ranking by making at least quarterfinal runs.
Keeping with his trend, Berdych started the year with a semi-final run at the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open. A top seed at the event, Berdych moved past Frederico Gil, Ivan Dodig and Blaz Kavcic to setup a semi-final clash with Stanislas Wawrinka. Losing to eventual
champion, Wawrinka in straight sets, Berdych exited the event though he maintained his ranking as sixth in the world.
The top ranked Czech then appeared at the opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open, as the sixth seed. Doing justice to his seed position in the draw, Berdych made it all the way into the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion, Novak Djokovic.
Although, Berdych made it to the quarterfinals, the Czech was unable to retain his rankings since a semi-final run enjoyed by David Ferrer bumped him to seventh position.
Berdych returned to the tour last week playing at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Seeded fourth in the event, Berdych made it to the quarterfinals before pulling out of the event due to a fever, giving Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a walkover into
the semi-finals.
Playing at Marseille this week, Berdych was seeded second in the main draw, which gave him an automatic bye into the second round. Equalling his career best here, Berdych is putting in his fourth participation at the event.
Debuting in 2005, Berdych failed to make it past the second round losing to Mario Ancic. His 2006 and 2009 runs here ended in the first round. However, enjoying his best form so far, Berdych might make another quarterfinal run or more here this week.
Starting against Vasselin, Berdych already enjoys the advantage of leading the head-to-head 1-0. Having met in the first round of the Roland Garros, Berdych had dismissed the Frenchman in straight sets.
Despite not having local support, Berdych held the upper hand and it seems history will repeat itself since Vasselin again enjoys the crowd support though Berdych outranks the French considerably.
Appearing for the third time here, Vasselin surpassed his career best here on Wednesday when he defeated compatriot Arnaud Clement in straight sets to move into the second round.
Vasselin had first appeared here in 2007 though he failed to qualify for the main draw. Succeeding in gaining acceptance in the main draw as a qualifier last year, Vasselin had been ousted in the first round by compatriot Michael Llodra.
Prediction: Although, Vasselin might have been able to defeat his higher ranked compatriot, defeating a top ten player is a whole new ball game. Not only does the disparity in rankings favour Berdych, but also the Czech enjoys a higher skill-set
not to mention the psychological and statistical advantage.
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