Dominant Nadal joins Federer in the semis
The pre-match interviews gave a good idea of how the match was going to be played. Berdych was happy to be playing the world number one in potentially the last match of his season. He promised to give an aggressive showdown in the match. Nadal was modest
and said he respected Berdych’s game as he was a very difficult opponent.
Soon the men made their way to the playing area and after warming up and going through the motions it was time for Berdych to serve. Berdych was quickly in his stride and he started where he had left off against Roddick. A brilliant forehand, an ace and
a Nadal error meant Berdych was off the mark. Berdych made his intentions clear when Nadal served for the first time. Nadal had to scamper here and there and in no time Berdych had two break points. Nadal kept his cool and with the help of an ace he was back
at deuce and from there held comfortably.
The tone of the match was set early on and subsequent games saw superb tennis from both players. And in the fifth game it was Nadal’s chance to earn break with two break points. Berdych slammed the door shut with a wonderful forehand coupled with solid serving.
The rest was business as usual and soon Berdych went ahead in the ninth game as he held comfortably. Nadal had to serve to stay in the match and after Berdych won the first point there were a few nervous Nadal fans in the crowd. Nadal was focused and in a
typical way won the second point, despite Berdych having the upper hand in the point. The Spaniard held comfortably. The pressure was on Berdych to hold and he raced to a 40-0 lead. Nadal played himself back into the game but Berdych smashed a great serve
on 40-30 to take the game.
The twelfth game changed the match altogether. Berdych's shot was called long by the umpire but when Berdych challenged the decision, it was reversed and the point was awarded to Berdych. This had Nadal fuming and arguing the umpires call, mostly in Spanish,
but to no avail. What this incident did to Nadal was what it would have done to any other champion. A pumped up Nadal raced to 40-30 and although Berdych pulled it back to deuce, Rafa held on to take the match to a tie breaker.
After a playing a great set like most of Nadal’s opponents in the past Berdych faded away in the second. It seems it is impossible to match the Spaniard pound for pound. Nadal won the second set relatively easily breaking Berdych twice for a 7-6, 6-1 win.
This win extended Nadal’s unbeaten run against Berdych to eight games. Nadal will be facing home favorite Andy Murray, the only man to have beaten Nadal twice this year, in the Semis. The other semi will be played between Federer and either of Roddick or Djokovich.
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