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Djokovic’s absence leaves the draw wide open, and the Czech star can capitalise

Under the guidance of Andy Murray’s former coach, Dani Vallverdu, Tomas Berdych has been a revelation this season. Sitting in second place for the race to London, with 27 wins and just 7 losses, ‘the Birdman’s’ consistency has took his game to new heights. A semi finalist in Australia, Dubai, and Miami, and a finalist in Doha, Rotterdam and Monte Carlo, everyone is waiting for the Czech to take the next big step and win one of these premium ATP tournaments.

The big step looks far more achievable this week in the absence of world number one, Novak Djokovic. The Serb narrowly defeated Tomas in the final of Monte Carlo, and it will likely take another great performance to dislodge Berdych this week.

Djokovic’s absence does not mean it will be a cakewalk for the Czech however. The deadly duo of Federer and Nadal lie in his half of the draw, whilst Barcelona winner, Kei Nishikori, is likely to be waiting in the final.

Berdych will have to be in great form to negotiate this tricky route, but there is no more likely place for him to achieve this than in Madrid. Berdych won the tournament in 2005, and he followed this triumph with runs to the final in 2012 and the semi final in 2013. Madrid is played at altitude, and these conditions suit Berdych’s big hitting game perfectly. He has already claimed the scalps of Nadal, Murray, and Dimitrov here in the past.

With doubts of Nadal’s form and Federer’s fitness, few would be surprised if Berdych blitzed his way through to his first title of the season.