Andy Murray insists no bad blood with Tomas Berdych after the infamous exchange when the British hero’s wife Kim called his rival “Czech flash f***”
British No 1 says 2015 Australian Open semi-final flare-up is behind him ahead of their Wimbledon clash on Friday
ANDY MURRAY swears that there is no bad blood between him and “Czech flash f***” Tomas Berdych.
That’s what Murray’s wife Kim was caught on camera calling Berdych during the 2015 Australian Open semi-final — their last meeting in a Grand Slam.
But while the rest of the world found Kim’s outburst funny and loved how she followed it up by wearing a “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content” T-shirt to the Aussie final, the British No 1 was mortified.
And he is just happy that the pair, who meet in today’s Wimbledon semi-final, are on good terms again.
Last year’s clash Down Under had extra spice because Murray’s close friend and former assistant coach Dani Vallverdu had gone to work for Berdych.
And the Scot revealed he had said sorry to his opponent for the way tensions boiled over in the heat of battle.
World No 2 Murray, who won in four sets, said: “It was a really uncomfortable period, that one.
“Dani was someone I had known since I was 15. He was one of my best friends and in the build-up to it, stuff was awkward.
“It adds a lot of tension to the situation. A Grand Slam semi- final is tense enough and, when you throw that into the equation, it wasn’t great.
“I could have possibly handled myself better in the match. Me and Tomas had always got on well for the most time and the tension spilled over to my team and to my wife.
“That happens occasionally and I’ve seen it with other players over the years.
“I spoke to Tomas the day afterwards and apologised. We’ve been great since.”
Vallverdu left Berdych’s camp in May but there is still an interesting subplot to today’s match.
Although Berdych, 30, successfully recruited Vallverdu and fitness guru Jez Green from Team Murray, he failed in a bid to make Ivan Lendl his head coach after the former world No 1 and Murray split in 2014.
The Brit is yet to discuss with Lendl his reasons for declining invitations from Berdych and other players, including Grigor Dimitrov.
But Murray, 29, is happy Lendl thought he was worthy of his attention again and signed up for a second stint as head coach just before Queen’s last month.
Murray said: “I think a number of guys have spoken to Ivan over the last couple of years and he obviously just didn’t fancy it.
“I was in a tough place when we stopped the last time.
“When I came back from my back surgery it was not an easy time.
“But he thought he could help and my game is going in the right direction. So that’s why I think he decided he wanted to do it again.”
Murray has won all ten matches since Lendl came back on board. And he should be confident of making it 11 against Berdych today.
The Czech was once one of the very few players not named Federer, Djokovic or Nadal who nonetheless had a winning record against Murray.
But the Scot’s victory in that fractious match in Australia was the first of four on the bounce and he now leads 8-6 in head-to-heads with the world No 9.
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Murray said: “When we played at the beginning of our careers he was much physically stronger than me.
“Big guy, strong and I maybe let him bully me a bit on the court. The last few times I have played against him I feel I’m much better against him physically compared to what I was even a few years ago.
“Since the back surgery I have been playing more offensive tennis with a lot of variety and making it harder for him to play his game.”
Murray has been calmer on court since Lendl’s return. But will Kim be wearing the T-shirt again today?
“I hope not,” said Murray.