Tomas Berdych.net

Lucie Safarova in Prague on Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tomas Berdych and Lucie Safarova

One of the longest-standing relationships on the tour is Czech duo Lucie Safarova and Tomas Berdych who have been together for sixyears.

 

The two grew up together in the Czech town of Prostejov.

 

“We understand what's it like for the other person because we are both players,” Safarova said.

 

“If I was with someone else, he might not understand howmuch I have to practice, or about matches, or about what the tour is really like. Tomas does.”

 

For Berdych, who has dipped his toes in the top ten duringhis time on the Tour, the notion that tennis would ruin their relationship makes no sense – in fact, he believes dating a fellow pro has its benefits.

 

“I think it’s true because we know each other, the travel, the practicing, all the things you do together in tennis, it works.”

 

The couple caught the public’s imagination at the 2007 Australian Open when Safarova won the biggest match of her career to date, beating defending champ Amelie Mauresmo to reach the quarter-finals. Within a minute, Tomas had wrapped up his match against Dmitry Tursunov as well.