Roger Federer in shocking career upset by Tomas Berdych Wembledon Tennis 2010
Six-time Wimbledon titleist and reigning champion Roger Federer, blasted out of the quarter-finals after being beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 by Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in two hours 35 minutes.
Federer's elimination is the biggest shock of a surprising tournament, and his defeat gave the 24-year-old Berdych his best career result. Currently, 12th seeded at the tournament, Berdych has never won a Grand Slam, but did reach the French Open semi-finals last month. The Czech has undoubtedly a lot on his mind before his upcoming semi-final match, with a myriad of speculations about a possible title win sure to be bombarding the 24 year old in the coming days.
Previously, Ivan lendl, a fellow Czech, proceeded to win eight Grand Slams, after a win-less career till the age of 24.
Can Berdych catch the big bird?
Berdych, along with his team of coaches are surely not claiming that another win deeper in the draw is ahead for the Czech. Yet the big-serving, 6ft 5in Berdych, seems capable of claiming another victory, judging by his fearless play against world No 1 Federer.
Throughout the match with Federer, the Czech continued pounding out ground-strokes down the line, which Federer could not return.
Berdych kept his focus when the possibility of beating the man with 16 Grand Slam titles started to look more and more likely.
Performing with his characteristic indifference, Federer is a true legend in his capacity to come back from troublesome situations. The Swiss star demonstrated his reserves of endurance by coming up to beat Alejandro Falla from being two sets down in the first round.
Unfortunately, in the quarter final round there was no return to keep alive Federer’s hopes of a record-tying seventh Wimbledon title. Berdych's powerful game kept the pressure at the tipping point and in the end it was Federer who deteriorated and let go of the match.
Crunching out the last of his winning forehands, Berdych whisked off his white hat and gave a rare flash of white teeth to a cheering Centre Court crowd, who was simultaneously saluting Federer’s effort.
Federer led their career meeting record by eight wins to Berdych’s two, and the Swiss knew that on Wimbledon's relatively faster court, Berdych’s force could be dangerous.
Berdych went on to break in game seven after two errors by Federer. That was enough for Berdych to capture the first set, which ended without Federer reaching break point.
Federer’s came back aggressively almost immediately, and stormed into a 3-0 lead in the second set. He mixed aces with the drop shot, testing Berdych's speed and return.
Berdych had served quite well in the above 130 miles an hour range throughout the match, but had trouble keeping it up, and Federer took hold of the second set, preparing to take command of the match.
The control of the match never occurred. The fierce Czech galloped to a 3-0 lead in the third set, widening the gap, and breaking again for a 5-1 lead. Tremendous applause from the crowd closed out the set with Berdych’s 11th ace of the match.
In a desperate effort to save the match in the fourth set, Federer held, and lost, four break points in the sixth game, looking slightly off-key for the first time, and Berdych committed a couple of double-faults, giving Federer some breathing room.
Berdych ended up breaking in a long deuce game, producing a beautiful cross-court winning forehand, and without faltering again, closed out the greatest win of his career on second match point with a huge forehand that proved to be a commanding feature of his game against one of the greatest players in tennis.
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