Ready to step up

Czech player Tomas Berdych says he is ready to break the stranglehold of the tennis elite who have taken the lion's share of the major men's tournaments in the past decade. Berdych, ranked number six but at 30 surely nearing the final years of his pro career, fell short at the semi-finals of the 2015 Australian Open, his best Grand Slam result this year. "I am trying to get myself in the best possible shape next year," the 13-year veteran told reporters in Manila when asked if he thought he would finally break his Grand Slam duck. "My preparation, I think, is going pretty well," the hard court specialist added.

Source: AFP