Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed,
takes on Daniel Brands, the 57th ranked player in the second round.
They have met once and that was in this very place in 2010 when Berdych
defeated Brands in four sets in the fourth round. Berdych went on to upset
Roger Federer and reach the finals whereas Brands could not qualify for the
next two years. Berdych has improved his ranking since and so has Brands who is
enjoying his best ranking. In the first round, Berdych defeated Martin Klizan in
straight sets hitting 31 winners and committing 14 unforced errors. Brands
defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver in five long sets hitting 59 winners and committing 31 unforced errors.
Both the players are equal in the
serve department and one can expect good number of aces from both ends. Brands
may turn out in attacking mode taking risks with the side lines. He can run up
to the forecourt leaving baseline to kill a short return, but since Berdych
plays flat shots, there may not be many short balls. Brands has had issues with
nerves which show themselves when he is up. Berdych too is not known to have
the same mental strength as the topmost elite players, though he does not
suffer from them when playing lower ranked players. He has the greater
experience of playing at big stage. Both have similar height but Brands moves a
bit better.
In as much as both play similar
style of tennis, it is to be seen who plays better on the day. He will have to
beat the opponent at his own game. Brands does not have much to lose and that
can take him to at least one set in the match. Whether he can take three sets
will entirely depend on how much above his average level he will play. He has
played 56 games while managing to defeat Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the
first round. Berdych is
the favourite to win. If there is an upset, it would not be the first time that
he lost as early as in the second round of a Grand Slam major. In recent times,
he lost last year at Wimbledon and this year at Roland Garros in the very first
round.
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