Roger Federer: Tomas Berdych reveals what Federer is REALLY like away from tennis
TOMAS BERDYCH has revealed what Roger Federer is really like away from tennis.
Tomas Berdych has described the real Roger Federer
And, unsurprisingly, it appears the 19-time Grand Slam champion is as good a man off-court as he is on it.
Berdych and Federer will go head-to-head in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Wednesday.
It comes 13 years after their first meeting - at the Athens Olympics in 2014, a match Berdych won - and they've now played one another 25 times on tour.
Federer has a 19-6 winning record over the Czech but Berdych has no hard feelings
He explained: "We have known each other for quite a long time. Meeting each other almost every single week since 2004.
"It's quite a long time and you know, he's a great person, definitely.
Tomas Berdych has reached the quarter-finals
"I had a chance to spend a little bit more time with him in Laver Cup and also because I have a quite close relationship with his coach Ivan.
"And it's great to see his personality off the court, as well, because I think we all are slightly in some kind of zone or bubble when you get to the tennis court.
"It's fair enough, because there are lot of things which you have to try to block and put on the side. It might look or it might create a slightly different personalities on us.
"But when you have a time and you're off court, I think we are all very different. It's great to meet Roger like that."
Roger Federer meets Tomas Berdych in the Australian Open quarter-finals
Federer beat former top-ranked junior Marton Fucsovics 6-4 7-6 (3) 6-2 in an afternoon match at Rod Laver Arena to make the last eight.
It ensured the Swiss great reached the quarters at Melbourne Park for the 14th time, extending his own record.
It's also now his 52nd Grand Slam quarter-final, extending his lead over Jimmy Connors, who had 41.
Berdych, meanwhile, beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets earlier on Monday.