Berdych began playing tennis at the age of five at a tennis centre in hometown of Valasske Mezirici, a town of just 30,000, where he soon became a top junior. He is a big fan of ice hockey and follows Detroit Red Wings and has met many of Czech players from NHL and 1998 Olympic gold medal team, including Martin Straka, Jaromir Jagr and Dominik Hasek. His favorite surface is hard court and his strengths are forehand and serve.