Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Nadal overhauls Berdych to set up Federer semi-final

January 24, 2012 19:10 IST

A fired-up Rafael Nadal survived a huge scare from big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open on Tuesday to prevail 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 and set up a mouthwatering semi-final with great rival Roger Federer.

A set down and facing set point in the second, Nadal dug himself out of a cavernous hole to overhaul the tall Czech in a taxing four-hour tussle under the lights at a frenzied Rod Laver Arena.

Dashing from corner to corner in a lime-green shirt, 2009 champion Nadal met seventh seed Berdych's power game with his own brute force and picked him off repeatedly when he charged cavalier-like to the net.

The pressure told and Berdych surrendered a decisive break in the opening game of the fourth set and another when serving to stay in the match to allow the world number two to keep his bid for an 11th Grand Slam crown alive.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.