Hyeon Chung might be a mini-Djokovic, but it’s hard to see anything other than Federer reaching Sunday’s final. Federer wasn’t at his best here, but his level was more than enough to see off Tomas Berdych in straight sets. That’s all from me. Thanks for reading and emailing. Katy Murrells will have coverage of the first men’s semi-final between Britain’s Kyle Edmund and Croatia’s Marin Cilic tomorrow. Do join her. Bye.
Federer is asked about his semi-final opponent. “I’ve never played Chung or Edmund. It’s great to see new names on the scene. We need it. The way both of him have played is highly impressive. Beating Grigor, beating Novak on this court is extremely difficult. Chung reminds me of Novak, sliding across the back of the court and getting balls back.”
Federer is asked about Rafa Nadal’s injury. “We wish him well. It’s hard to watch. Still, you have to give Marin Cilic credit because he hung in there and fought hard.” He says that he sent Nadal a supportive message before his scan and is glad the news isn’t too bad.
Roger Federer speaks! “I hung around. I got a bit lucky, a bit angry, a bit frustrated with the umpire. I thought the call was right anyway and he was probably right to take the call away, but it was good to let some of the frustration away. It was tough, that first set could have gone either way and he deserved it a little bit, so I’m happy.”
Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych 7-6, 6-3, 6-4!
Serving for the match, Federer moves to 15-0 when Berdych hammers a forehand wide. A fine serve makes it 30-0, then a drive volley makes it 40-0. Three match points, then. A match that started so awkwardly has turned into a breeze. Federer serves down the middle and Berdych nets a forehand. That’s it. Federer is into the last four.
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Third set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-6, 4-5 Federer (*denotes server): At 15-0, Federer clobbers a forehand to the right. Then his volley hangs up long enough to tempt Berdych into a pointless sprint. He doesn’t get there. It’s so cruel. Berdych hangs in there, though, fighting to 40-30 and flicking a forehand past Federer to hold.
Third set: Berdych 6-7, 3-6, 3-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Oh no! At 15-all, Federer chips a hopeful defensive lob. Berdych leaps but mistimes the jump and nets his smash. Oh Tomas. Federer proceeds to hold to 15, gliding to within a game of a semi-final with Hyeon Chung.
Third set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-6, 3-4 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych holds to love. He’s still got a bit of hope. Not much, though. You’d have to squint very hard to see it.
Third set: Berdych 6-7, 3-6, 2-4 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer consolidates the break easily this time, holding to love.
Third set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-6, 2-3 Federer (*denotes server): Normal service is on the verge of being resumed when Federer earns two break points. He can’t take the first. He plonks a backhand down the line to take the second.
Third set: Berdych 6-7, 3-6, 2-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Crikey. Federer’s focus dips and a wretched backhand hands Berdych two break points. He serve-volleys, but Berdych’s forehand return is superb and Federer nets a low volley! The comeback is on! Sort of.
Third set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-6, 1-2 Federer (*denotes server): The game goes to deuce. The pressure’s rising. Why does Berdych keep going? You have to admire him for still being out there. We would have left court ages ago and never returned. We’d be in a darkened room somewhere, sobbing and clutching a pillow. Federer earns a break point when he uses HawkEye to show a Berdych forehand was long. Berdych is fading. He runs around a backhand. But he’s off balance and his forehand flies off target. Federer isn’t losing from here.
Third set: Berdych 6-7, 3-6, 1-1 Federer* (*denotes server): With a couple of preposterous flicked shots on the run, Federer holds to love. He’s 36.
Third set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-6, 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych returns after his timeout and Federer bungles a drop shot. It’s a low-key game. Federer’s had to wait a while and he can’t find his range. Berdych holds to 15.
Tomas Berdych has called for the trainer. He’s left the court for a medical timeout. There were some pained cries from him during the second set.
Roger Federer wins the second set to lead 7-6, 6-3!
Berdych lets go of some frustration with a ripping return for 15-all. Two Berdych misses later, though, and Federer has two set points. Berdych makes one more error and that’s all Federer requires. There’s surely no stopping him now.
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Second set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-5 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych, straining, nets a backhand to make it 0-15. Federer starts chopping backhand slices at him with vicious intent. He’s waiting for the moment, lining up the opening, keeping Berdych guessing. Is it now? Or now? Or ... now? It’s now. Federer slashes a backhand down the line to make it 0-30. Berdych suddenly finds himself in a spot of bother. At 15-30, he nets a forehand. He goes on the offensive, but Federer’s defence is outstanding. From a seemingly hopeless position, he wins control of the rally, forcing Berdych into a nothing half volley with a dipping forehand. Federer skips forward to slap a backhand away and he’ll serve for a two-set lead.
Second set: Berdych 6-7, 3-4 Federer* (*denotes server): At 15-30, Berdych has a sniff. But he leaves a ball short and Federer punishes him with a forehand winner. Then comes an ace off a second serve. Federer holds to 30.
Second set: Berdych* 6-7, 3-3 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych charges into a 40-0 lead. Federer nets a backhand return. Not much going on at the moment.
Second set: Berdych 6-7, 2-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer breezes to a comfortable hold. These games are starting to skip by with increasing speed, which is ominous for Berdych.
Second set: Berdych* 6-7, 2-2 Federer (*denotes server): At 40-30, Berdych double-faults to make it deuce. He looks nervy. But the expectation that he’s about to collapse proves misguided. He bangs a backhand down the line and then he holds when Federer blooters a forehand long.
Second set: Berdych 6-7, 1-2 Federer* (*denotes server): The game goes to deuce. Federer’s still erratic. He nets a backhand to give Berdych a break point. Again, though, his skill sinks Berdych, a backhand down the line leaving the Czech stranded and forlorn. Strong at the net, Federer holds. “Even though he had set points and what not, one always felt that it was a matter of when, and not if, Federer would come roaring back,” says Shankar Mony. “To play that poorly and still win the set only bodes well for Roger. One would feel sorry for Tomas except that he does this most every time he plays a big name. Just not enough self-belief. If I am being harsh it is because I am disgusted, these fellows do not give you cause to support them. I predict a one break second set and then a tiebreak in the 3rd that Berdych will lose as well. Seen this many, many times.” Me too, Shankar.
Second set: Berdych* 6-7, 1-1 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych steadies himself, holding to 15.
Second set: Berdych 6-7, 0-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer hit 24 winners and 18 unforced errors in that first set, heightening the sense that this match is all about whether he plays well. Berdych, with only eight winners, needs the Swiss to dip again and then show more belief in the big moments. But you fear for him after that tie-break. His confidence can be so fragile in these situations.
Roger Federer wins the first set 7-6!
First-set tie-break: Berdych* 1-7 Federer (*denotes server): Federer being Federer, he spins a backhand drop shot insultingly out of reach to claim the set! He hasn’t been at his best, almost winning it on reputation, but he’s turned on the style in the tie-break and Berdych, who had been impressive, hasn’t been able to respond.
First-set tie-break: Berdych 1-6 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer swings an ace out wide. Or did he? Berdych challenges. It was wide. Second serve. Federer dusts himself down and volleys smartly to earn five set points, Berdych’s scampering to no avail.
First-set tie-break: Berdych 1-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Berdych, belief slipping away, nets a backhand.
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First-set tie-break: Berdych* 1-4 Federer (*denotes server): Federer pummels aforehand down the line. Berdych can only block long.
First-set tie-break: Berdych* 1-3 Federer (*denotes server): Federer nets a backhand with Berdych at the net and there for the taking.
First-set tie-break: Berdych 0-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer clips a backhand down the line.
First-set tie-break: Berdych 0-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Berdych sticks a backhand long.
First-set tie-break: Berdych* 0-1 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych attacks, charging the net again. But Federer scampers across from the left to whip a stunning forehand past the Czech. Berdych challenges, but the ball landed on the baseline.
First set: Berdych 6-6 Federer* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set, Federer nails an ace to make it 30-0. He looks in control. Or is he? Maybe he’s still a bit rattled. Two errors make it 30-all. A double-fault hands Berdych a set point. This is astonishing. We haven’t seen much of this from Federer in the past year. Yet Berdych can’t accept the gift, hammering a backhand long. A cheap error from the Czech. Federer holds in the end, slapping a volley away. Tie-break.
First set: Berdych* 6-5 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych does well to let go of the disappointment of his previous service game, holding to love without any bother at all. He’s got a tie-break at least.
First set: Berdych 5-5 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer’s still serving to stay in the set. But it’s three straight games for him. The tide is turning.
First set: Berdych* 5-4 Federer (*denotes server): Serving for the set, Berdych starts to feel it for the first time, netting a backhand to make it 0-15. Federer is geeing himself up. He senses something might be afoot here. It’s certainly tense. A Berdych second serve is called out - and then it’s swiftly corrected. Federer challenges, but the ball caught the line, so Berdych gets another first serve. A strange rule, but there’s nothing Federer can do about it - or a huge Berdych forehand down the line for 15-all. Federer keeps pushing, however, moving into a 15-30 lead, and then Berdych pings a backhand miles wide to make it 15-40. Berdych hammers a first serve down the middle. Federer returns and challenges the serve as Berdych punches a volley away. There’s a delay as we wait for HawkEye. But, er, HawkEye does not compute. The machine’s broken! Technology has let us down! Federer is furious. We can’t see HawkEye! Although it does turn out that the ball was in. One break point’s gone and the other soon disappears too. Deuce. But Federer’s pumped up now! He forces Berdych to err again and he bellows as the Czech’s defensive volley flies long. It’s just not going Federer’s way, though. Berdych does a drop shot. The ball clips the top of the net and dribbles over to Federer’s side. Berdych proceeds to earn his first set point with an ace. Federer responds by pushing a backhand return down the line to save himself and he earns his fourth break point by attacking with his forehand. There’s no escape for Berdych this time. Federer flays a backhand down the line and there goes the break! Despite the drama of the game, it felt faintly predictable. Does Berdych truly believe?
First set: Berdych 5-3 Federer* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set, Federer finds himself down 0-15 when he drops a forehand wide. Berdych’s deep hitting is troubling him. But he makes it 15-all with a backhand winner from left to right before sending an ace away for 30-15. He hustles his way to a hold to 15. But Berdych will serve for the set.
First set: Berdych* 5-2 Federer (*denotes server): Federer is putting a lot of heat behind his groundstrokes, but he overcooks a backhand to make it 15-0. He challenges to no avail. The game swiftly runs away from him. Berdych serves well to make it 40-0 and holds when Federer blocks a forehand wide. Federer will serve to stay in the set.
First set: Berdych 4-2 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer’s still looking iffy, double-faulting to make it 15-all. The next two points are more like it, though, sending winners off both wings down the line to lead 40-15. Then comes a drop shot. Berdych scampers forward to prod wide.
First set: Berdych* 4-1 Federer (*denotes server): Federer charges the net, forcing Berdych to go big, and the Czech’s backhand flies long for 0-15. At 15-all, Berdych cracks a forehand to the Federer backhand and comes to the net. Federer picks him off down the line for 15-30. Berdych decides to turn up the power. Federer nets a forehand. 30-all. The Swiss still isn’t totally with us. He pings a forehand down the line and skips to the net, only to punch a gimme of a volley wide. It would have been a break point. Instead it’s 40-30. Berdych thumps an ace away to hold and keep his nose in front.
First set: Berdych 3-1 Federer* (*denotes server): Federer makes the crowd feel a bit better, getting on the scoreboard with a hold to 15. His serve clicked.
First set: Berdych* 3-0 Federer (*denotes server): Berdych is purring here, walloping crushing drives past Federer for a 30-0 lead. Federer’s aim is off. He nets a backhand to make it 40-0. Berdych consolidates the break, holding to 15. The Berdych v Edmund final is going to be something.
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First set: Berdych 2-0 Federer* (*denotes server): Berdych has settled quickly, blocking a clever return down the line for 0-15. Federer responds with his first ace. The game goes to 30-all. Federer’s looking a little edgy, though. A double-fault hands Berdych a break point. It’s saved, though, Federer placing a second serve well enough to force Berdych to net a forehand. The game goes to deuce. But Federer’s still spluttering a little, another error offering Berdych another chance. He takes this one when Federer flays a backhand wide! “Come on!” Berdych cries. He’s made the perfect start.
First set: Berdych* 1-0 Federer (*denotes server): The match opens with the 19th seed serving. On Eurosport, Mats Wilander gives Berdych a 25% chance of winning. He starts well, stomping into a 30-0 lead. Then comes a fearsome rally. Berdych’s forehand whistles just wide. The game goes to 40-15. Then comes the first swipe from Federer, a stunning forehand winner. Berdych takes note of that. He doesn’t want any more rallying. An ace closes it out.
Tomas Berdych won the toss and elected to serve. Time for the players to knock up. Tok! Tok! Tokity Tok!
This is the final match of the day. The winner of this one faces Hyeon Chung in Friday’s semi-final after the Korean’s win over Tennys Sandgren. On the women’s side, meanwhile, we’ve already seen Angelique Kerber beat Madison Keys, followed by Simona Halep seeing off Karolina Pliskova. Kerber, the 2016 champion, was in fine fettle, but she’ll have her work cut out against Halep. The world No1 was very good against Pliskova.
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While we wait, here’s news of the latest on Rafa Nadal’s latest injury setback.
Here come the players, walking out on to Rod Laver Arena. No prizes for guessing who gets the bigger cheer from the crowd.
Preamble
Hello. You have to feel for Tomas Berdych. After showing his grand slam pedigree to reach the last eight of the Australian Open for the seventh time in the last eight years, trust his luck that his Big Four opponent today isn’t a hobbling Andy Murray, a tennis-elbowed Novak Djokovic or a knee-knacked Rafa Nadal, but a fully functioning Roger Federer, the defending champion and a physical freak at the grand old age of 36. Poor Tiger Tomas, the Czech Republic’s answer to Tim Henman. You have to admire the way the 32-year-old keeps plugging away in the hope of winning his first ever major title, but it’s just his luck to find himself in Federer’s quarter. It was the Swiss, of course, who dumped him out of the third round here last year and who beat him in the quarter-finals two years ago, not to mention sending Berdych on his way when they met in the Wimbledon semi-finals last year.
And at first glance it’s difficult to see how this is going to go any other way. Federer has played supreme tennis during the Melbourne fortnight, never really finding himself in any danger of dropping a set in his first four matches, and the second seed is likely to be even more motivated now that Nadal and Djokovic have wandered off to the hospital waiting room. Murray and Stan Wawrinka have already had their appointments with the doctor and while his biggest rivals nurse their respective ailments, Federer glides on, unruffled and untroubled, better than ever, still as regal as he ever was. A year ago he was in the midst of an astonishing comeback. He had returned after six months off with a knee injury and he entered this tournament as the 17th seed. Nobody gave him much hope of winning a first grand slam since 2012. Now it is no exaggeration to say that it will be a huge shock if he isn’t holding the trophy this Sunday. It would be the 20th grand slam title of his career.
But wait! Shocks happen. They’ve already happened in this strange tournament. For all that Djokovic’s elbow played up, few people expected him to fall to Hyeon Chung (the brilliant Korean who awaits the winner of this match in the last four), Marin Cilic to find it within himself to fight back from behind to outlast Nadal or for rising British star Kyle Edmund to stun Grigor Dimitrov. Sport is unpredictable. Everybody expected Federer to win the ATP World Tour Finals when Nadal pulled out, including this correspondent, and then he lost to David Goffin. He isn’t invincible and that’s what Berdych has to tell himself. The 19th seed, who has dropped only two sets in making it this far, is playing well. His power game is functioning. He needs to forget about losing his past eight matches to Federer and that he trails 19-6 in their head-to-head. He needs to tell himself that last year was, well, last year. He needs to think about the times he outmuscled Federer at Wimbledon and the US Open. He needs to believe - otherwise we’re in for a fairly pointless couple of hours.
Play begins at: 8.30am GMT, 7.30pm in Melbourne.
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