Tomas Berdych is not the first name who often factors into predicting how a key tournament will unfold.  At age 28, he is not one of the young guns, nor is he a heavy favorite.  While Berdych and his game are not exactly underrated, he is puzzlingly under the radar for a man currently ranked world No. 5.  Perhaps it is time to reconsider if Berdych might still have it in him to win a major.

The Czech has the kind of game that makes him a viable contender at almost any event that he enters.  He has defeated every member of the Big Four at least once, and he is a former Wimbledon finalist.  Berdych has also enjoyed some of his greatest and most consistent success in recent months, including the first quarter of this season.  Already in 2014, he has reached the semifinals of the Australian Open and Miami, the final of Dubai, and won the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam.  If he can continue to build on this momentum through the clay-court swing, he could be very dangerous this summer.

While definitely possible, maintaining or building momentum will be tricky for Berdych on the dirt.  He moves exceptionally well for a man of his height, but the slippery clay makes his movement more of a liability than on other surfaces.  Also, the clay blunts the effectiveness of Berdych’s easy power, limiting him to fewer aces and fewer winners. 

Those factors partly explain his mediocre results on clay.  Last year alone, Berdych suffered early losses in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, and most notably in the opening round of the French Open to Gael Monfils.  But he also enjoyed his share of clay success, reaching the semifinals in Madrid and Rome as he notched wins over Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in the process.

The positive to such an up-and-down 2013 clay-court season is that it leaves less to defend in 2014.  Despite the disappointment of having already lost in Monte Carlo, Berdych equaled his performance there from last year.  Although he may lose ground in Madrid and Rome, it is hard to imagine him suffering another first-round exit at Roland Garros, where there will be far more points up for grabs.  Berdych should be fully aware of this situation and feel motivated to emerge from the clay-court swing poised to have a fruitful summer.

From the sound of it, Berdych is not lacking in the motivation department.  In a recent interview, the Czech spoke of feeling more energized even after 12 long years on tour.  He acknowledged drawing inspiration from Murray, who suffered some devastating losses in major finals before finally hoisting a coveted Grand Slam trophy.  Berdych also suggested that he has found new hope and belief from the sense that the men’s field is starting to open up a bit.  As with any sport, so much in tennis is between the ears.  If Berdych’s comments are any indication, he is in a better place mentally, which could bode well for the second half of his 2014 season.

That said, claiming a Grand Slam title is still going to be a tall task for Berdych.  But he does possess the necessary weaponry to pull off such a feat, so be wary of relegating this big-hitting Czech to under the radar.  The men’s field is opening up and could have many more surprises in store. 

Stanislas Wawrinka proved that by shocking everyone with his title run in Melbourne.  Who is to say that Tomas Berdych is incapable of doing just the same?