Tennis News • Tomas Berdych Announces Retirement At The Nitto ATP Finals

By 10sballs Staff
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: November 16, 2019

By Ricky Dimon

As expected following Wednesday’s news leak on social media, Tomas Berdych announced his retirement from tennis on Saturday. Berdych joined several other outgoing players for an on-court ceremony at the Nitto ATP Finals in London before holding a press conference.

“I decided very quickly after the U.S. Open,” the 34-year-old said when asked when he made the decision. “My last official match told me, ‘That’s it. You tried absolutely everything.”

Berdych lost in the first round of the year’s final Grand Slam, falling to little-known American Jenson Brooksby 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Due to hip and back problems, the former world No. 4 played only five matches since the end of February. He missed the clay-court season before appearing at Wimbledon and in two hard-court tournaments (Winston-Salem and the U.S. Open).

There are no immediate plans for Berdych, who says he is unsure if he will be involved with tennis in the future.

“Not having a plan is the next plan,” he explained. “I think I deserve it…. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

Berdych turned pro in 2002 and made his first big waves when he upset Roger Federer at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He was ranked 79th in the world at the time, while Federer was No. 1. Berdych captured the first of his 13 career ATP titles one month later on the red clay of Palermo. His next title at the 2005 Paris Masters was by far the biggest of his career.

Even though he never matched that achievement over the course of the next 14 years, Berdych was a consistent force at Grand Slams and finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2010. He turned in six semifinal showings at slams and 10 quarterfinal performances.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.