Tomas Berdych.net

    Berdych tops Ginepri to reach second round in Paris Maris

Czech Tomas Berdych, who captured the 2005 title (d. Ljubicic) on debut, knocked out American Robby Ginepri 6-4, 7-5 in 89 minutes to set up a second round clash against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. Berdych improved to 34-21 on the season, highlighted by one ATP title at Tokyo (d. del Potro) and one runner-up finish at Bastad (l. to Robredo). Ginepri dropped to a 25-20 mark.

     Round 2: Tomas Berdych vs Stanislas Wawrinka

Order of Play  of Wednesday, October 29, 2008

COURT 1 Matches Start At: 11:00am
Marcel Granollers(ESP) vs. Marin Cilic(CRO)
David Ferrer(ESP) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber(GER)
Ivan Ljubicic(CRO) vs. Nikolay Davydenko(RUS)
Stanislas Wawrinka(SUI) vs. Tomas Berdych(CZR)
Simone Bolelli(ITA) vs. James Blake(USA)

Tomas Berdych in action against Stanislas Wawrinka on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

12th seed Stanislas Wawrinka has failed in his bid to storm the top eight in the points race after losing 6-3 7-5 to 2005 champion Tomas Berdych, who will meet Nikolay Davydenko next. Sixth seed and 2006 champion Nikolay Davydenko of Russia edged into the third round after beating 2005 runner-up Ivan Ljubicic, a Croatian qualifier, 7-6(5), 7-5 in one hour and 44 minutes. Davydenko, who has already qualified for Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai for a fifth successive year, improved to 51-18 on the season, highlighted by three ATP titles.

     Round 3: Tomas Berdych vs Nikolay Davydenko

Order of Play  of Thursday, October 30, 2008

COURT CENTRAL  Matches Start At: 11:00am
Juan Martin DEL POTRO (ARG) vs David NALBANDIAN (ARG)
Not Before 12:00 PM
Andy RODDICK (USA) vs Gilles SIMON (FRA)
Not Before 1:30 PM
Jo-Wilfried TSONGA (FRA) vs Novak DJOKOVIC (SRB)
followed by
Marin CILIC (CRO) vs Roger FEDERER (SUI)
Not Before 7:45 PM
Rafael NADAL (ESP) vs Gael MONFILS (FRA)
followed by
Tomas BERDYCH (CZE) vs Nikolay DAVYDENKO (RUS)

    Davydenko def. Berdych 6-1, 6-1

As it happened:

11.02 pm: As the clock strikes  11, Davy steps up to wrap it up… and does so. 6-1, 6-1 Davydenko. What a display of serving, volleying and backhand strength and accuracy. And he'll need to be as good as that again tomorrow when he faces none other than world No1 Rafa Nadal, in the second match of the afternoon.

10.57 pm: 5-0. Can Davy bagel it? Berdy serves, it's 0-30 in a blink of an eye. Berdych comes back to 30-30 to the delight of the crowd who are behind the underdog. When the Czech 2005 champion avoids the bagel with a whipped forehand, it's almost the biggest cheer of the day.

10.47pm: An early break for Davydenko and it looks like the match is all but over, and then Berdych carves out two break points. Nikolai becomes savey Davy with a couple of big serves and pin-point volleys, then offers his Czech opponent another chance with a volley that was so far out, it hasn't landed yet. He then settles down, takes the next three points and it's another demi-bagel. 3-0 Davydenko.

10.35 pm: Berdych gets on the board at 4-1 but Davydenko responds with some cracking tennis. There is one point in particular where Davy comes to the net and lays down a backhand drop right on the line, Berdych ends up in the 30 Euro seats getting it back and all but lobbing the Russian, but Davy leaps and takes the point with a lob that Edberg would have been proud of. 5-1 then becomes 6-1 as Davydenko takes the set on the back of three breaks. He'll even have the advantage of serving to open the second set. The 2006 champ looks set fair for the quarters. 

10.15 pm: Berdych double-faults and Davy Denko Donny Darko is in merciless form. 3-0, two breaks. After that demi-bagel, the unseeded Czech wakes up and carves out a break point, but the Russian saves it with a big serve away to the far corner of the Ad court and a volley to follow up. Another deuce later, with Hawkeye popping up to help out Berdy, the follicly challenged No6 seed makes it 4-0.

10.08 pm: Davy Denko holds at a canter and it's 2-0.

10.01 pm: We're off! And the No6 seed is quicker out of the blocks, winning the first point and, despite a Berdych ace, the first game with some powerful deep and accurate backhands.

9.50 pm: And here they are: 2005 champ Berdych and his successor the following year Nikolay Davydenko. The two alumni from the honour roll are warming up now.

9.42 pm: There's a dance contest going on on Centre Court at the moment (rest assured not between Davydenko and Berdych… they'll be on in a minute).