Tomas Berdych.net

Love games, then back to hotel

Emma Quayle
January 22, 2007

THE BACKHANDER

LUCIE Safarova and Tomas Berdych have been together four years, and are obviously in sync. In the exact same minute that Safarova upset Amelie Mauresmo on centre court - 12.43pm - her boyfriend finished his own day's work, beating Dmitry Tursunov in three sets. Berdych and Safarova have known each other since they were children, having both grown up at the Prostejoc club in the Czech Republic, and they came to Melbourne with some major plans.

"Before the open we spoke together. We were like, OK, now together we can do it," said Safarova, who will turn 20 next month. "That's amazing we finish in the same minute. I saw him. We are both really happy." Berdych was equally thrilled for Safarova, who had never been past the second round of a grand slam, and is sure that in living such similar lives, the pair had pushed each other to bigger things.

"I think it's true because we know what the tennis is, that we need to travel, practising, all things together with the tennis," he said. "Yeah, it helps." That said, the duo will not pair up for the mixed doubles as planned, withdrawing yesterday for fear of unsettling their singles campaigns. "The weather conditions is so tough, it's windy," Berdych said. "Both of us playing really good. I don't think it's good idea to go and just play the mixed in these conditions."

Wedding bells are also a while off, but for simpler reasons. "Not yet," said Safarova. "We are still too young."