In a conference call on Tuesday, the former world no. 4 Tomas Berdych announced that he has ended his 2018 season earlier than planned. The Czech played his last match against the Frenchman Julien Benneteau in Queen's in June and he is now recovering from a complicated back injury.

'It's the result of a struggle caused by big work out: I had to get that part of the body free and strengthen the muscles. I dealt with a lot of inflammations as well,' Berdych said. A few years ago, Berdych hurt his hip and in his trying to protect that area of the body, other areas were affected.

He also lived a different summer. On one side, there were 90-minute workouts every day and on the other, he was totally free. He went bike-riding, 'but in order to have the authorization, I get checked once a week. They also give me the green light to run.

Golf instead can be dangerous.' He also enjoyed holidays in Italy, twice in Greece and took some car rides as well. He and his wife also visited the Austrian Alps. But tennis is still his priority. He hopes to comeback in January 2019 in time for the Australian Open, where he lost to Roger Federer in the quarter-finals last year.

'I love the game, I like it but I want to be back on court thinking to be in shape and needing to beat just one opponent: who is on the other side of the net, not myself. I even thought about retirement, but then I thought it was not the case, the work I was doing would have been wasted.

Even if it's beautiful to keep your mind free and relax.' Berdych also spoke about the new format of the Davis Cup, saying he does not like it because it removes the home ties. 'Anyway, I had already given the official farewell to Davis Cup.

I took a decision and I would not like to change it. Also, I do not know this format.' ALSO READ: Sponsors do not affect my schedule, says Roger Federer