Tomas Berdych was looking to start his tenth Wimbledon campaign on the right note this afternoon as he faced world number 36 Martin Klizan.
The seventh seed crashed out at this stage last year but started today's match in fine form, taking the first set inside 30 minutes.
Klizan contributed to an entertaining match but could not live with the former runner-up at SW19, eventually falling to a straight-sets defeat.
Look back at ruthless display from the Czech star with Sports Mole's game-by-game coverage below.
Afternoon tennis fans. Our coverage from Wimbledon continues this afternoon with an intriguing match in the men's singles featuring a former finalist at SW19, with Tomas Berdych starting his campaign against Martin Klizan.
Berdych will be acutely aware of the need to start strongly this year, after crashing out twice in the first round at SW19 last year. The seventh seed lost his opening match of Wimbledon and the Olympic Games last season, but does have experience of success on a grass court in the past.
The 27-year-old warmed up with an appearance at Queens two weeks ago, reaching the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Marian Cilic. A powerful player with a huge serve, Berdych has not always looked completely comfortable on this surface, but silenced critics by reaching the final in 2010.
Rafael Nadal's surprise exit yesterday has really opened up the men's draw this year, giving players on the cusp on success like Berdych a chance to go deep into a Grand Slam tournament. Before we get to head of ourselves though the Czech giant must overcome Klizan, a player capable of sublime tennis on his best day.
More early aggression from Berydch there but his opponent just does enough to claim an important early hold for his confidence. The seventh seed is definitely hammering the ball today at every opportunity, so expect short points at either end of the court.
The pre-match formalities are just about complete on Court One, with Berdych winning the coin toss and electing to serve first. How will the Czech giant fare in his 10th Wimbledon campaign? We are about to see how he fares in his first round match!
Berdych shows early aggression to take the opening game without losing a point. If Klizan was under any illusions at the task facing him today a mix of blistering serves and forehands has just given him an early reminder.
A couple of unforced errors give from Klizan give Berdych a sniff of an early break at 30-30, but the Slovak comes up with a huge first serve to edge ahead, with that effort clocked at 136mph.
BREAK POINT! A tight call goes against Klizan to give Berydch break point at the baseline, with a justified challenge proving that the ball had gone inches wide. Berdych then lets the early chance slip with a wasteful attempt at a forehand winner, brining the pair back to deuce.
Another efficient use of serve sees Berydch take his second successive hold with the match less than five minutes old. Klizan is quickly back on serve and shows neat touch at the net, fooling his opponent with a clever drop shot.
Well that was just about the perfect hold for Klizan, finishing a service game to love with a ferocious forehand smash high at the net. This is the effective side of the Slovak's game that troubled Nadal for so long at Roland Garros last month.
A superb forehand pass from Klizan gets the world number 36 out of trouble serve, catching Berdychh unaware at the net. I like the Slovak's use of disguise on serve, he will need every bit of that early intelligent to make a match of this first-round clash.
Berdych comes under pressure for the first time on serve, quickly dropping successive points to go 0-30 down. A precise passing forehand then falls right on the line to bring the former finalist level at 30-30.
An expertly times forehand winner punishes a slack second serve from Berdycha at deuce, giving the Slovak a hard-earned break point. A massive trademark Berdych serve then quickly takes that chance away and we are back at deuce.
A worthy effort at a cross-court winner sprays just wide Klizan, allowing Berdych off the hook as the first set stays on serve. I'd just like to see the seventh seed show more variety by coming in to the net on crucial points like that, but he looks resistant to change and relies on a punishing array of shots at the baseline.
Well that was just about the perfect hold for Klizan, finishing a service game to love with a ferocious forehand smash high at the net. This is the effective side of the Slovak's game that troubled Nadal for so long at Roland Garros last month.
Klizan's encouraging start bodes well for a competitive match to finish day two on Court One, but the Slovak loses the first point of his latest service game with a slack passing shot at the baseline. He then falls 0-30 behind with an unforced forehand error, the first signs of pressure on the Slovak's serve.
Make that eight successive points take on serve as Berdych responds swiftly with a routine hold to love. Nothing between the two players at this stage, with an early break-point chance missed by both men.
BREAK POINTS! Klizan's encouraging start bodes well for a competitive match to finish day two on Court One, but the Slovak loses the first point of his latest service game with a slack passing shot at the baseline. He then falls 0-40 behind with an pair of unforced forehand errors, giving Berdych three break points.
Berdych goes back to basics and churns out a hold under pressure, with a powerful serve and forehand just forcing Klizan out of his comfort zone at the baseline. You feel that the Slovak has to make more of small openings like that to turn this match into a genuine contest.
BREAK! What a disappointing way to be broken as Klizan double faults at 15-40 behind on serve. Berdych is clearly fired up with that breakthrough and will now serve for the first set after 25 minutes of play.
SET! Complete cruise control there for Berdych as he takes the first set with a ruthless game on serve. Klizan looks furiously up at his coaching team in the stands and appears visibly upset, but either way he has dropped the first set after being punished for some untimely unforced errors.
A change of shirt for Klizan as he serves to start the second set, following a fierce serve with excellent touch at the net to go 30-15 ahead. In flashes the Slovak shows genuine ability, but appears to be blighted by lapses in concentration at the baseline.
A nice confidence boost for the world number 36, with composure on serve earning a comfortable hold under little pressure. Berydch looks slightly miffed and starts his next service game by smashing a ferocious serve down the line for an easy point.
Signs of a chance for Klizan on the Berdych serve, with a challenge denied at 15-30 after a strong effort chasing down a drop shot at the net. Berdych has relaxed a little too much after claiming that first set, with another swift challenge from Klizan on the next point proving successful.
Berdych goes back to basics and churns out a hold under pressure, with a powerful serve and forehand just forcing Klizan out of his comfort zone at the baseline. You feel that the Slovak has to make more of small openings like that to turn this match into a genuine contest.
BREAK! In the blink of an eye Klizan drops his second service game of the match, wasting a third challenge and failing to keep concentration on serve. Just not good enough at this level, with Berdych taking full advantage to smash a forehand winner down the line and take complete control of the match.
A quick and welcome response from Klizan in the next game, with a pair of cheap points giving him a chance to respond at 15-30. The longest rally of the match soon follows in a fierce baseline exchange, but Berdych comes out on top as he forced an error on Klizan's backhand side down the line.
A spirited effort from Klizan counts for nothing as Berdych regains composure to smack a 130mph serve across court. That hold came under relative pressure for the Czech, but he stands a set and break up with the match less than an hour old.
Both players show supreme power in successive points, with an ace and forehand winner leaving a Klizan service game deadlocked at 40-40.
Both players spurns successive chances to close this game out, forcing deuce for the fourth time in easily the longest game of the match so far. Berdych is the first to blink, sending a wayward forehand well wide, but Klizan gets too elaborate at the net with advantage as his deft volley fails to beat the net.
The Court One crowd applaud Klizan's effort as he digs deep to avoid a double break in the second set. A packed audience are desperate to see a competitive match this evening, but Berdych has that early break and just looks a little too powerful for his spirited opponent at this stage.
All too easy for the seventh seed on serve, as he gets the benefit of a fortunate drop at the net to close out a wonderful point featuring lobs and slices aplenty. Berydch apologises quickly but doesn't look very sorry, crashing a first serve in to take another hold to love.
Nice variety on Klizan's backhand side has Berdych chasing shots down the line on successive point, with the big Czech unable to prevent a relatively comfortable hold from his opponent. The seventh seed still as that vital break and remains a clear favourite to take this second set with economical tennis.
A welcome time for Berydch to get new balls on serve, with a rapid first serve clocked at 127mph to start his latest service game. Klizan is unable to deal with the sheer power of that first serve but a rare unforced error from the Czech keeps things interesting at 30-15.
A horrible miscue on Klizan's forehand side allows Berydch to march through another routine service game. The Slovak will now have to serve to survive in the second set, with the odds firmly stacked against his prolonged participation in this match.
One of the shots of the match so far at the net helps Klizan build a 40-0 lead, but a risky drop shot then allows Berdych to step inside and slam home a passing forehand winner. A double fault then puts Klizan under pressure at 40-30, with Berych suddenly showing interest in a chance to break.
A nice show of quality and character at the baseline helps Klizan recover from deuce to hold serve just when he desperately needed to. Berydch will have to serve out this second set, but has looked in supreme form this afternoon in that department, particularly with his first serve.
SET POINTS! Berydych starts this chance to close out the second set with a sloppy unforced error, but successive serves clocked at over 130pm help him earn two set points at 40-15.
SET! Klizan gambles with a deep forehand return and that risk does not pay off, with the ball drifting long to gift Berdych a second set he fully deserves. All too easy there on serve for seventh seed, who is playing just about the perfect first-round match this afternoon. Klizan must move quickly or this match will be over in straight sets.
Klizan is quickly under pressure on serve in the third set, with a hold here absolutely imperative for the world number 36. He forces an error with a well-placed wide serve to go 30-15 ahead but Berdych once again responds, smacking a precise forehand down the line to restore parity.
Confident shot-making from Klizan helps him shrugg off a fifth double fault to close out a vital hold. Can the Slovak use some of those fleeting moments of composure to finally put pressure on the Berdych serve early in this third set?
Berdych uses his first challenge of the match to question a call at the baseline, with the Czech player proved right to close out a hold he scarcely deserved. Klizan is simply unable to step inside and catch a first serve with any conviction, allowing Berdych to earn cheap points and maintain his hold on the match.
A ferocious return of serve from Berdych sees the Czech rediscover his aggressive streak to win successive points on Klizan's serve. Two break points soon follow with an unforced error at the baseline from the Slovak, this could be the match right here.
Klizan fights back to save two break points, with a welcome first serve smacked down the line to force deuce. His resistance continues at Berdych fails to meet a forehand pass properly, with a fine effort at the net from the Czech drifting wide to keep this third set on serve.
Four points later and Berdych has claimed perhaps his easiest hold of the match, with a fourth ace timed at 125mph. The Czech has noticeably to control the majority of points and keep them shot, pushing the pressure back on to his opponent at every possible opportunity.
BREAK! The writing is on the wall here for Klizan as he quickly falls 0-40 down with a pair of cheap unforced errors. His first serve is noticeably better under pressure but still proves futile, with Berdych arrowing a measured return across court for the break.
With just three games needed to close this match out Berdych finds his groove on serve, recording a fifth ace in the process. Klizan then takes a nasty fall chasing down a shot at the baseline, almost doing the splits as he hits the deck. The Slovak is quickly back to his feet, earning a warm round of applause from the crowd in the process.
Ace number six soon follows for Berdych, with a welcome show of variety at the net completing another service game with minimum fuss. Klizan will really have to dig deep to survive here in this third set, with a hold in his next game an absolute necessity.
Just when he needed to Klizan shows grit on serve, using a mix of serves out wide and down the line to hold with four successive points. What the Slovak now needs desperately is a first break of serve, with just a single break-point chance created so far this afternoon as his struggles with returning continue.
BREAK POINT! And when he needs it Klizan shows some signs of life deep in the third set. A pair of deep forehand returns create a rare opportunity, but once again inconsistency reigns supreme as he misses a forehand winner by a mile at 30-40. Back to deuce and will that be his chance gone?
A sense of disappointment fills Court One as Klizan spurs two break-point chances and perhaps his last chance of success this afternoon. Berdych kept things simple on serve and eventually got his reward, with his opponent's game littered with too many errors to succeed at this level. Klizan will now have to regroup as he serves to stay in the match.
MATCH POINTS! Klizan lets a volley drop short and concedes two match points at 15-4 down. A superb first serve sees him evade the first chance, but surely that effort will just delay the inevitable.
A beautifully constructed points keeps Klizan alive, with Berdych forced too wide to meet a clever volley at the net. Back to deuce in this potentially decisive game.
Berdych is forced to serve out this match as a quite terrific first serve from Klizan clips the line and bounces up away from the Czech's grasp. If only that show of stubborn resistance could have been found by the Slovak around 30 minutes ago, this had the makings of an interesting match early on.
Berdych challenges a change of call from the line judge, with his effort across court ruled in by Hawkeye. A clubbing forehand is aimed in a similar position in the next points, with Klizan quickly falling 30-0 behind in a game he must win.
GAME SET AND MATCH! With three more match points earned Berdych lets a forehand fall well wide of the baseline, but the reprieve for Klizan is only momentary. Another unforced error gives the Slovak hope at 40-30, but Klizan sends a forehand of his own long to end this match before the two-hour mark.
A solid, efficient display from Berdych there to give the seventh seed a perfect start to his Wimbledon campaign. After going out in the first round last year that performance will surely provide a huge-confidence boost for the former runner-up, but there will be sterner tests to come.
That just about does it for out first look at Tomas Berdych in this year's Wimbledon. Thanks for your time and stay in touch with Sports Mole for comprehensive coverage from SW19 over the next two weeks.
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
