Berdych downs Kudla in second round of US Open

No. 5 Tomas Berdych defeated Junior Tennis Champions Center alum Denis Kudla yesterday on Louis Armstrong Stadium, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

In the early stages, Kudla was the aggressor as his backhand tracers caught the German off guard.

“It was not easy at all. He made me work pretty hard today,” said Berdych. “His game is quite well suited for the hard court. He plays a lot of flat balls. I prefer a bit when the ball jumps higher. Then I can use my weapons a little bit more. I had never played him before, so that’s also not easy. It was very important that I made both of the sets, tight in the tie-break. Then I was able to step up and I was fresher than him and just took the third set.”

Kudla was a feisty opponent and went toe-to-toe with Berdych.  It was only the third time in his career Kudla faced a top ten foe (0-3 record).

“Experience was a big difference,” added Berdych.  “But experience cannot save you from losing matches.”

Despite dictating flow, Kudla’s unforced errors at critical junctures cost him. There was a litany of deuce games (including a remarkable thirteen in the first set) that could have swung the match in his favor.

In the third frame, Kudla appeared to be hampered by a hamstring injury.  The trainer was called out twice and Kudla was seen stretching in between each point.  The injury was readily apparent in the latter half of the final set as Kudla reverted to a slice backhand instead of the typical two-handed bullets he can rip for winners.

Kudla will play doubles with partner Austin Krajiceck today (third match on Grandstand court).

Match Stats