Saving Private Berdych

How to encourage a player who hangs out week after week with the best in the world? In the case of Tomas Berdych, with a bet. The Czech, ranked number 7 of ATP, we bet with his coach that if at the end of the season were to play the Masters Cup in London would shave his hair. The result? A new look in the style of Saving Private Berdych.

Only minutes ago he had just dropped in Masters Cup semi-final against Jo-Wilfred Tsonga , but Tomas Berdych knew his season was to put a smile on his face. In the dressing room of the majestic O2 Arena, Czech another surprise awaited him. The grand finale. Into Czech will sit on a chair, took off the shirt ... and shaved head. "A bet is a bet," said the star later in Facebook. The origin of it took place at Wimbledon, where after falling in the second round against Mardy Fish , and sorry for not being able to defend reached the final last year, we bet with his coach Tomas Krupa that in case of holding on and classified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to us always-be Masters Cup would shave the hair as if it were a soldier. The fine print said I should also gain at least a title and add 50 wins in 2011. No matter, so fulfilled.

Berdych endured not only among the best, but he displayed the best version of tennis in the final rush of the season. Signed a first round (Basel), a second round (Shanghai), third round at the U.S. Open quarter-final (Montreal), three semifinals (Bastad, Cincinnati, Paris) ... and in Beijing ended a drought of 26 years without winning a title and added the title of his record sixth. He qualified for the Masters Cup and ended up signing a background of 53 victories and 23 defeats in 76 matches in 2011. The price of success we know ....