Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych will be facing each other for the 25th time in their careers when they collide in the Wimbledon semifinals on Friday.
The head-to-head series stands at 18-6 in Federer’s favor, which is actually a respectable number for Berdych. But it has not been competitive of late. Since winning five times in the span of eight meetings from 2010 through 2013, Berdych has lost seven in a row against Federer and the underdog is 1-16 in their last 17 total sets. The Czech did, however, make things interesting earlier this season in Miami; Federer prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(6) during his run of consecutive Masters 1000 titles.
That came in a stretch that saw the fifth-ranked Swiss go 19-1 in his first 20 matches of 2017. After skipping the clay-court swing and losing his grass-court opener in Stuttgart to Tommy Haas, Federer appears to be back in the same kind of form. He is in the midst of a 10-match winning streak that includes the Halle title and Wimbledon victories over Alexandr Dolgopolov, Dusan Lajovic, Mischa Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, and Milos Raonic. The 18-time Grand Slam champion is the only one of the four semifinalists who has not surrendered a single set.
Berdych had been mediocre at best prior this fortnight, to the extent that he still won’t be in the top eight in the race to the World Tour Finals if he falls to Federer. But a return trip to the All-England Club was just what the doctor ordered for the world No. 15. The 2010 runner-up and 2016 semifinalist is 42-13 lifetime at this tournament and is back in the semis following defeats of Jeremy Chardy, Ryan Harrison, David Ferrer, Dominic Thiem, and Novak Djokovic–the latter via second-set retirement.
Still, Berdych has not done enough to suggest he can take down Federer, which he did in the 2010 quarterfinals before upsetting Djokovic in the semis and losing to Nadal in the title match. Only his straight-set demolition of Ferrer was a particularly impressive result, and Ferrer is a shadow of his former self at 35 years old.
Berdych’s next 35-year-old foe, on the other hand, is aging like a fine wine. The 11th seed’s favorable draw has come to an end, and his 2017 Wimbledon campaign will likely do the same on Friday.
Pick: Federer in 3
[polldaddy poll=9787628]
Berdych has beaten Feds before and can beat him on his very best days even nowadays provided Feds is having a bad one. However, it’ll not happen today. Feds in 3 or 4 … http://www.138mph.com/wimbledon-thursdays-recap-and-fridays-predictions/
Berdy please, make Fed run from side to side! He’s not that quick along the baseline as before.
And, don’t come to the net, please, you’re not going to beat Fed there!
Fed already has the break. Now he can play even more aggressive.
What’s the hurry Berdy? Take your time and concentrates on your first serves, you’re not exceeding the 20secs yet, are you?
Yes, at least holds serve now and restricts the deficit to only one game, find a way through Fed’s service game if you can!
Berdy is so… Come on, stay at the baseline!
Berdy breaks! Poor game from Fed. Back on serve. Berdy really has to keep it together here.
Yes! So back on serve! Now Berdy, serve properly, dont be rash, concentrate on your first serves!
Berdy playing well now. That break gave him a lift.
Good service game from Berdy! Come on, make it a match!
Tie breaker 6:0 ?
Yes, good serving by Berdy, now concentrates on returning Fed’s tricky serves, you can do it!
Berdych to win slam???
C’mon Berdych, dont let an old man beat up on you.
The commentators, Becker being one of them, spoke too soon, saying it is an exhibition match by Fed, ha, now they’re too shock to realize that Fed is having a match on hand!
Lucky, to be fair: we all predicted that it would be more or less an exhibition match for Fed. I would be glad, though, if I was wrong…
But probably not. I doubt that Berdych has the determination and the tools to fight back…
Come on littlefoot, it isn’t an exhibition match so far!
I for one did not predict that it’s an easy match for Fed. Fed may still win but it’s not going to be easy.
Fed is not playing as well as in his earlier round matches because Berdy is a big server and hard hitting baseliner.
Well done Berdy, good serving. See, you’ve to concentrate on your serve, serves well to have a chance!
Maybe fed edges out the first round then age catches up and fed loses ?
Nah. Too strong mentally compared to Berdych.
Berdy throwing away points like that!Oh please!
Fed ain’t playing well as earlier because he is one of the older players on tour. Old age affects everyone no matter who u are. Fed is conserving for the finals maybe or he is just tired.however his skills will carry him for the win.
how many times has Birdy beat Fed after losing the first set?
Twice, out of six wins, not bad, at 33%!
Berdy, the first serve is very important, please concentrate.
If Berdy could have won the first set TB. That would have given him some belief.
I just don’t think Berdy is mentally tough enough to beat Fed now. He’s done it on the past, but it’s been a long time.
Still Berdy is staying in it and making a match of it.
Berdy is really not a very intelligent player, I mean why hit CC all the time right back at Fed when there’s an opening for a DTL shot? Such unintelligent play!
For all your effort, at least wins a set please, Berdy!