Berdych ends Federer run at Wimbledon
Source: Agencies |
July 1, 2010, Thursday
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CRISP-HITTING Czech Tomas Berdych claimed the biggest win of his career yesterday when he stunned six-time champion Roger Federer 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Federer was simply outplayed by his 24-year-old opponent, who consigned the Swiss maestro to his earliest defeat at the All England Club since 2002 and became the first Czech to reach the semifinals since Ivan Lendl in 1990.
"It's amazing to play in this stadium, such a great player Roger is, it's amazing," said the 12th-seeded Berdych after the two hour 35 minute contest. "Toughest game of my career to serve out, I'm very happy."
From the moment Berdych claimed the opening point with a rapier-like forehand winner the Center Court crowd could sense a classic contest was in the offing.
He made the first breakthrough of the match in the seventh game when a Federer backhand drifted long to give the Czech a 4-3 lead. Another stray backhand from the Swiss gave Berdych the opening set after 34 minutes.
The Berdych forehand was really starting to fire but the six-time champion took an early break in the second to go 2-0 up, and Federer unleashed a mighty 'Come on!' when he levelled the match.
Berdych stepped up another gear in the third, a sumptuous half volley helping him to a break for a 2-0 lead which he celebrated with a little jig of delight.
The winners were beginning to fly off the slick Czech's racket, and another murderous backhand that dashed off the baseline gave Berdych a second break for a 5-1 lead and a service bomb wrapped up the set a game later.
Berdych showed real nerve recovering from 0-40 at 2-3 in the fourth, a deficit not helped by two double faults, and he punched his fist towards his entourage as he put away the game-winning smash. Then came the crucial turning point, a wonderful running forehand from Berdych had Federer stretching for a volley which drifted wide and the Czech broke for a 4-3 lead, shaking his fist to his corner as he bounced backwards towards his chair.
Berdych showed signs of nerves when serving for the match, giving Federer a break point but he kept himself together, punching away a forehand and pointing to his corner in disbelief as he sealed his third career win over the Swiss.
He will play Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday's final. Djokovic eased into his second semifinal, comfortably outclassing giant-killer Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Lu had knocked out three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick on Monday.
Federer was simply outplayed by his 24-year-old opponent, who consigned the Swiss maestro to his earliest defeat at the All England Club since 2002 and became the first Czech to reach the semifinals since Ivan Lendl in 1990.
"It's amazing to play in this stadium, such a great player Roger is, it's amazing," said the 12th-seeded Berdych after the two hour 35 minute contest. "Toughest game of my career to serve out, I'm very happy."
From the moment Berdych claimed the opening point with a rapier-like forehand winner the Center Court crowd could sense a classic contest was in the offing.
He made the first breakthrough of the match in the seventh game when a Federer backhand drifted long to give the Czech a 4-3 lead. Another stray backhand from the Swiss gave Berdych the opening set after 34 minutes.
The Berdych forehand was really starting to fire but the six-time champion took an early break in the second to go 2-0 up, and Federer unleashed a mighty 'Come on!' when he levelled the match.
Berdych stepped up another gear in the third, a sumptuous half volley helping him to a break for a 2-0 lead which he celebrated with a little jig of delight.
The winners were beginning to fly off the slick Czech's racket, and another murderous backhand that dashed off the baseline gave Berdych a second break for a 5-1 lead and a service bomb wrapped up the set a game later.
Berdych showed real nerve recovering from 0-40 at 2-3 in the fourth, a deficit not helped by two double faults, and he punched his fist towards his entourage as he put away the game-winning smash. Then came the crucial turning point, a wonderful running forehand from Berdych had Federer stretching for a volley which drifted wide and the Czech broke for a 4-3 lead, shaking his fist to his corner as he bounced backwards towards his chair.
Berdych showed signs of nerves when serving for the match, giving Federer a break point but he kept himself together, punching away a forehand and pointing to his corner in disbelief as he sealed his third career win over the Swiss.
He will play Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic for a place in Sunday's final. Djokovic eased into his second semifinal, comfortably outclassing giant-killer Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Lu had knocked out three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick on Monday.
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