The ATP World Tour Finals—the season-ending championship of men's tennis—begins on Sunday, November 9 in London. Over the next four days, we'll take a closer look at the seasons put forth so far by the eight singles competitors.
"No matter how many times you qualify, it’ll never be routine." So said Berdych, after securing a spot in the season-ending championships for the fifth consecutive year. But his play at the year-end event—he's escaped the round-robin stage just once—has largely mirrored his performances at the majors: Good, but not quite good enough. That might also be a way to describe his 2014 season, in which he won two titles, posted three runner-up finishes, and reached the semifinals at the Australian Open, Miami Masters, and the just-completed Paris Masters. Some would say that’s outstanding; others would say it’s somewhat disappointing for the ultra-talented Czech. What did Berdych think about his latest return to elite eight? "It's always just proof of having a great season."
Donning a blue-and-white striped shirt usually seen in soccer games, Berdych made a statement in Melbourne, blasting his way to the semis before bowing out to eventual champ Stan Wawrinka in a fourth-set tiebreaker.