Accompany Kartik Das on a LIVE journey of the final between the Czech and the Spaniard, with in-depth analysis, updates and action.
Namaste, buenas tardes, wǎnān, guten abend, bonsoir, and good evening to all our viewers following us on espnstar.com. Today promises to be an exciting encounter fought by the industrious Spaniard Rafael Nadal and the first Czech finalist since Ivan Lendl, Tomas Berdych.
The world number one will be looking to win his second Wimbledon title and he is no doubt the favorite for this match up. He is unbeaten in his previous 13 matches at Wimbledon but has had a difficult run in this championship so far. In the early rounds, he was taken to five sets on two occasions and even dropped a set to his nemesis, Robin Soderling. However, a near flawless performance over the British hope, Andy Murray portrayed that Nadal is here to stay.
Meanwhile Berdych's run was surprising yet scintillating. He upset the world number two and world number three in consecutive rounds with accuracy and alacrity and no one can say he doesn't have it in him to go all the way and win his first grand slam. The 24-year old Czech will look to smack the ball as hard as he can but his challenge will be to execute his game plan and throw off Nadal's rhythm.
Head-to-Head Nadal 7 - 3 Berdych
Be sure to keep refreshing your page every few minutes to follow the action. The match will begin at 1:00 pm GMT (9:00 pm HKT).
As the players walk past the dressing roon and on to the court, Nadal is seen bouncing around behind the calm Berdych.
The toss is spun and Berdych to serve first! He has the advantage to always be ahead in the first set. Time is called and the players head to their chairs.
Set 1 - Berdych 1-0 *Nadal: Berdych doesn't lose a point in the opening game and uses his first serve to great effect. The power hitter didn't let Nadal control a single point and wins the first game with ease.
Set 1 - Berdych* 1-1 Nadal: Nadal repays the favor and wins his service game without conceding a point. He puts away the short ball with his lasso-whip follow through and goes on to claim the game.
Set 1 - Berdych 2-1 *Nadal: Berdych showed no signs of nervousness and took a lead of 30-0. Then Nadal wons his first point off the recieve after hitting the ball back after Berdych powers his first serve in. Federer had a difficulty recieving Berdych's serve and would just push the ball back in, but Nadal is using the pace on the serve to great effect. Nevertheless, Berdych takes the game after winning a challenge of his serve that was called out in the point before.
Set 1 - Berdych* 2-2 Nadal: A little glimpse for Berdych in the game after the score was tied at 30-30 but Nadal got his first serve in and the ball got away from Berdych. And at 40-30 Nadal again uses his serve to force an error off the return. This match is going to be close folks.
Set 1 - Berdych 3-2 *Nadal: Berdych took the first point after coming to the net and showing great net coverage to put the ball away into the open court off Nadal's passing shot. Second time around, Nadal gets enough time to wip the ball away past the Czech who was again at the net. But this is exactly what Berdych needs to do (coming to the net) to keep Nadal at bay. However, Berdych claims the game after finishing off a short ball that even Nadal couldn't reach.
Set 1 - Berdych* 3-3 Nadal: In his fist ever grand slam final, the Czech is slightly struggling off the Nadal serve. Nadal takes a 40-0 lead only to concede two points unfortunately but Nadal claims the game with a marvelous kick serve.
Set 1 - Berdych 3-4 *Nadal: First blood to Rafa! Knowing that this is the last game before a change of balls - since the balls are slower than in previous six games - Nadal takes his chances and breaks Berdych's serve.
Set 1 - Berdych* 3-5 Nadal: Nadal consolidates. With an ace and some agressive play he forces Berdych on the back foot and plays it behind Berdych who was on the run, to take the game. Berdych now has only won one of the last eight points and from 3-3 suddenly it's 3-5 to Nadal.
Set 1 to Nadal - Berdych 3-6 *Nadal: Nadal breaks again impressively. This was a poor service game from the Czech as shown in his low first serve percentage (below 50%). If Berdych has to even have a chance in this match he will definitely need to improve that statistic. Furthermore, Berdych has two aces to Nadal's four and that statistic should also be the other way around.
Set 2 - Berdych* 0-1 Nadal: Berdych hangs in on the 5 point of the game, after the scores are level at 30-all, and hits a winner to make it 40-30 but Nadal comes back and finishes the point in three shots. At 40-all Nadal double faults to give Berdych another break point but again his serve saves him - this time it was his second serve which he sent out wide with a significant amount of slice.Nadal made another silly mistake in the second deuce. Eventually Nadal won the 10 minute game eventhough he made three double faults.
Set 2 - Berdych 1-1 *Nadal: The 24-year old takes the game comfortably without conceding a point. Once again Berdych starts off the set well but the question remains whether he can keep up this level of play and intesity.
Set 2 - Berdych* 1-2 Nadal: After taking the first set 6-3, Nadal again leads after holding on to his serve. The spaniard is clearly aiming at the backhand of the Czech star, as 74% of Nadal's shot's have landed on the backhand side of the court.
Set 2 - Berdych 2-2 *Nadal: Cannon-ball serves! Sensationally Berdych yet again doesn't give the bull dog a look into the game after powering through his shots and winning the game without losing a point.
Set 2 - Berdych* 2-3 Nadal: Another close game but Nadal holds on. This is the difference between Nadal and his opponent - even in close games or when he plays a few bad points, Nadal has the ability to come through. He has so many weapons in his game, Nadal is a handful and will be very difficult to beat.
Set 2 - Berdych 3-3 *Nadal: Berdych likes getting over his serve quickly, and he zipped through the sixth game of the second set.
Set 2 - Berdych* 3-4 Nadal: A solid game by Nadal and a good volley to finish off the game. The set's on serve and both players are making it so easy to hold on to their serve. Now, whoever get's the first break of serve in the second set should go on to win it, unless there are still more twists and turns to face.
Set 2 - Berdych 4-4 *Nadal: Boom-Boom Berdych, he pumps down some massive serves to tie up the second set. Nadal looks annoyed but there is nothing he can do if Berdych serves like this. However a tame error at 30-all by Berdych grants Nadal a break point. However, Berdych hold on to his serve and wins the game after coming to the net.
Set 2 - Berdych* 4-5 Nadal: The Czech continues to try and get to the net but Nadal just isn't giving Berdych that opportunity. Nadal takes a 40 love lead and seals the game with a good serve.
Set 2 - Berdych 5-5 *Nadal: The set inches towards a tie-breaker, after Berdych solidly holds on to his serve. Nadal keeps on trying to hit it to Berdych's backhand, but the Czech runs around it and smacks his forehand making Nadal run all over the court.
Set 2 - Berdych* 5-6 Nadal: After winning the first point, Berdych gets a huge round of applause from the ceneter court crowd. Seems like they want a long match! But Nadal holds on after losing two points and giving Berdych a chance at 40-30.
Set 2 to Nadal - Berdych 5-7 *Nadal: Berdych is missing his forehands more than he did against Federer and paid the price and trailed 0-40 to set up Nadal with three set points. Again Berdych missed a forehand and gave Nadal the set. Very unfortunate for the Czech, that after fighting for the entire set he gifted all his hard work away.
Set 3 - Berdych* 0-1 Nadal: "Oh I say!" Nadal leads two sets to none and he looks to be crusing to a straight sets championship win. There seems to be nothing Berdych can do to outdo the Spaniard as even on the run Nadal squuezes out a pass.
Set 3 - Berdych 1-1 *Nadal: There is some hope for Berdych as he has never lost a five-set match at Wimbledon. But there is a long tiresome journey ahead for the Czech if he is to win two sets from here. Still, Berdych hits some crunching forehands and conjures up a little bit of magic to stay in the set.
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