Berdych keeps low expectations after first-round win at Dubai Tennis Championships

The big-hitting Czech, who fell to Novak Djokovic in the final here last year, broke his Romanian opponent in the fourth game to take a 2-1 lead in the opening set.

Tomas Berdych returns the ball to Marius Copil during the second day of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday. Ali Haider / EPA

DUBAI // Even running, by his own admission, at half tank, Tomas Berdych still cruised comfortably into the second round at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

A sublime start to 2014 has revved up the Czech’s confidence levels so much that he can afford to play sometimes with the handbrake on. That certainly seemed true of his 6-3, 6-4 opening victory against qualifier Marius Copil on Monday, stretching Berdych’s recent rude health to eight consecutive wins, a feat that includes last week’s collection of an ATP title in Rotterdam.

So how would Berdych rate his latest performance? Five out of 10? Maybe nine?

“No, no, no,” he said. “Definitely not. I would say maybe four or five. But it’s a good sign to start, at least. You know, I really like to keep improving and getting better and better each match, so that’s why I have space here.”

Remain in this particular groove and Berdych can confidently expect to plug a hole in Saturday’s final. He was there last year, of course, eventually losing in straight sets to Novak Djokovic, then world No 1.

In true elite-sportsman speak, though, Berdych is focused on only his next assignment in Dubai, against Sergiy Stakhovsky, the Ukrainian ranked 88th in the world and whom he has beaten in their only two meetings.

“Next match is important,” Berdych said. “I need to be ready for that.”

Yet the removal of No 2 seed Juan Martin del Potro, through injury, from his half of the draw suggests Berdych can cast his mind deep into the week. Not that he would concede as much, but an expansion of his hot streak surely counts as something, too.

“I’m just trying to profit from that,” he said. “Trying to build up on the form, to bring the confidence as far as I can and really just go one by one. That’s not really counting the matches.”

Additional reporting from Gary Meenaghan.

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