• ATP World Tennis Finals

Berdych relishing Nadal challenge

ESPN staff
November 25, 2010
Tomas Berdych beat Andy Roddick in straight sets © Getty Images
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Tomas Berdych believes he has nothing to lose when he takes on Rafael Nadal in his final round-robin match at the ATP World Tour Finals.

Berdych is making his debut at the O2 Arena this year, and after a disappointing defeat to Novak Djokovic in his opening group match, kept his chances of qualification alive with a straight-sets win over Andy Roddick.

Even a win against the world No. 1 would not guarantee him a place in the semi-finals, but regardless of the outcome of the match, the Czech is delighted to end the season in London.

"I think for me it's the best schedule," Berdych said. "To be playing maybe possibly the last match of the season against the world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, or if I can do well then to beat the No. 1 player in the world and have a chance to play more in this tournament.

"Playing Rafa, it's always a great experience, even if you play on the clay, grass, indoor, outdoor, whatever."

Berdych broke into the top ten for the first time this year after upsetting six-time champion Roger Federer and Djokovic en route to the Wimbledon final. He has struggled to maintain any consistency in the second half of the season, but is delighted with how 2010 panned out.

"I'm not going to be splitting the season into halves or quarters of months or weeks, tournaments," he said. "The season starts in January and finishes right now, and for me, the season was good. It was my best season I ever played."

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