Despite a Wimbledon final and a place deep in the world's top 10 to his name, Tomas Berdych seems destined to be remembered as a player who was never quite able to fulfil his potential.
Often held up as a prospective leader of the post-Federer generation, Berdych has instead been forced to take something of a back seat as the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray seized centre stage.
Ordinarily, Berdych's achievements would not be sniffed at. But there is a growing sense of helplessness among many of his fellow top 10 stars who have been rendered also-rans by the dominance of the game's big four.
Berdych took the first set off Nadal in their Australian Open quarter-final but the Spaniard stormed back to win and make it another grand slam last four consisting of those familiar names.
Berdych admitted: "This is probably the toughest time to play tennis because of those four really strong guys, making history every week they go out and play. So it's tough but it's how it is and we have to deal with it."
Berdych has now lost his last 10 meetings with Nadal, a run stretching back to Madrid in 2006. In fact, Berdych won three of his first four career meetings with the Spaniard - but none since.
"I look at my record and see we were close the last time we played," said Berdych.
"(In Melbourne) we were even closer. So I think my game is improving. I'm getting better and more experienced."
Berdych's record against world number one Djokovic is just as bad. He has won just one of their nine meetings - the 2010 Wimbledon semi-final, which was just prior to the Serbian's dramatic lift-off.
But there are signs Berdych could be creeping slowly into contention. He has won three of his last five against Federer, and has won three of only four career meetings with Murray - including the last three straight.
Berdych added: "I'm going out there to try my best and those are the steps that I'm taking. Hopefully this year or whenever we play our next match, I will bring some more experience and try to do it better."
