http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2013-01-20/2013012013586
75405744.html
Sunday, 20 January, 2013
Q. That was one heck of a tiebreak.
TOMAS BERDYCH: Oh, yeah. I mean, so far this year I didn't play any
tiebreak, and this was the first one. Pretty good.
So, yeah, I want to maybe enjoy that and stay there longer. No, no, no. I
mean, I had many chances through all the set, and in the tiebreak as well.
But, yeah, I mean, it's tough with him. Could be really about a few points.
I'm glad I was able to hold my serve and then in the last point just made
the point.
Q. Were you consciously really going for it in the tiebreak?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I mean, from the beginning, yes. Then probably I was
actually yeah, that was definitely the tactics that I wants to keep
through all the tiebreak. But especially actually I don't know the score,
but there was two times that Kevin was serving second serve. Well, good
second serve, but I was quite, you know, passive on my return, which I should
go for it more a little bit.
You know, I mean, risk it, try to get him under pressure little bit more. I
didn't do so. He just made two clear winners from forehand.
So, yeah, but it was kind of a tactic through the tiebreak, yes.
Q. Is it easier said than done? Those tiebreakers, there's a lot of
pressure. To really go for it, it makes sense to be slightly passive. Is
that the difference between the top four in those situations and everyone
else?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I think more fair is to say you should be able to bring
your best game, you know, because as long as the set is keep going, why to
play the best tennis when it's 1 All. There is no sense. You will be 2 1,
and that's it. There's basically not much happen with that.
So I think it's more important to bring the best for the end of the set, and
I think I was able to do so. I was many times actually serving the set
points down and was able to keep on my serve, which with him is very tough
because you don't know what could happen, especially for your second serve.
You can just go for it hundred percent and then you don't have it in your
hands at all.
Well, finally it didn't happen like that. I was able to made it, not to be
there for the fourth set, possibly the fifth set.
Q. Would you say you're mentally strong?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I would say that it's getting better and better. I
mean, it's the kind of improvement since the first rounds. And even by this,
it's much better than on beginning because of course you have many matches,
confident, and everything felt good.
So let's see.
Q. How do you feel this year compared to last year going into the
quarterfinals, probably playing another big player?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I would say I felt much better, you know. I mean, the
last year was a pretty, I would say, big year for me. There were many new
experience that I learned. You know, I hope that I'm gonna be able to profit
from that.
On the other hand last year I spend much more time on court. And, of course,
every single piece of energy I'm going to need for the next match.
So now I felt pretty good. I mean, I just play every single match by three
sets. Everything was fine. I felt physically well. I hope that's actually
now the big match gonna waiting for me.
Q. I think it was a backhand volley for two sets to love against Rafa.
Could you have done anything differently with that shot?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Many people say that, yeah, backhand volley. I saw it couple
of times in the TV. Still, I was the one on court playing the situation.
Maybe it looks easier than the volley was.
I mean, it was not something that, for example, I was missing with John Isner
in the final in Winston Salem. That was an easy backhand volley which I will
see for a couple of years (smiling).
But, yeah, this one was a tough shot. You know, yeah, as Rafa has shown,
great fighter. Yeah, he was playing really well.
But, yeah, I mean, it was a good match. I like to get back in my memories
for this match, yeah.
Q. You say you learnt a lot in the last year. Anything specific or in
particular that you've discovered about yourself?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Every single day you discover something new. Every time that
you just wake up, it's gonna be something new.
But, no, in my tennis life, tennis career, it was many things. You know,
even to play semifinal in US Open. That match with Andy Murray, even it
doesn't go well, there was something what I could learn a lot from that.
You know, then through whole year, playing the Davis Cup, those matches,
playing in Argentina, it's not something you're going to get on regular
tournament. Then the final.
There was many, many things that's been new for me. It's always good to have
as much as possible of the experience. Yeah, I learn some of them.
Q. Is that Davis Cup final still in your head? Do you still think about it
a lot?
TOMAS BERDYCH: No, it's not. I mean, it's nice actually talk about it now,
talk about it on the dinner, during the day. But once you coming for the
court, even for the practice, it has to be over, you know, because the season
started, new season start, and nobody actually care about that.
It's done. We won that, and that's it. So now everything starts from the
beginning again, and that's how it is.
Q. Did you see the match last night between Federer and Tomic?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Actually not much. I didn't see much. I just seen couple of
points actually today from the tiebreak in the second set.
I mean, no, it's tough to say something about it if you see like three, four
points. It's tough. I would be cooking from nothing. Sorry.