By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, January 20, 2019
Rafael Nadal continued his career-long mastery of Tomas Berdych, 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (4), storming into his 11th Australian Open quarterfinal.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
There is a time and place for everything.
Facing Rafael Nadal on a court is rarely the right time or place for Tomas Berdych.
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A relentless Nadal roared through nine straight games to ignite a 6-0, 6-1, 7-6 (4) thrashing and charge into his 11th Australian Open quarterfinal in his first tournament of 2019.
It is Nadal's 37th career Grand Slam quarterfinal, which gives him sole possession of fourth on the all-time Open Era list behind Roger Federer (54), Novak Djokovic (43) and Jimmy Connors (41).
Continuing his career-long mastery of the lanky Czech, Nadal beat Berdych for the 20th time in 24 meetings, avenging a 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5) defeat to Big Berd in the 2015 Australian Open quarterfinals.
Striking cleanly, Nadal hit 32 winners against 17 errors, 15 fewer errors than Berdych, improving his Australian Open record to 59-12.
"I save an important point in the first game of the match, it's true, a break point," Nadal told Jim Courier afterward. "And then it's true he had more mistakes than usual on his game. I expected in the third set that he will push me and that's what happened.
"He had his chances, he had I think set point. So it has been a very real set the third one more than the first two. I'm very happy to be in the quarterfinals again, it's great news for me after a while."
The victory vaults the Roland Garros champion into a highly-anticipated match against inspired American Frances Tiafoe.
The explosive Tiafoe celebrated his 21st birthday with a pulsating coming-of-age victory over 2017 semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov, 7-5, 7-6 (8), 6-7 (1), 7-5. Tiafoe won 45 of 66 trips to net in a gripping three hour, 39-minute conquest.
"It's gonna be the first time we play each other," Nadal said of Tiafoe. "He's playing great. He won a couple of great matches during the tournament. He's super quick and he's able to change directions fast. He goes to the net fast. He has a huge forehand, good serve, so let's see. It's gonna be the first meeting for both of us.
"Always is special when you meet the opponent for the first time. As always in the quarterfinals there is only one way: to play well."
For a set-and-a-half, Nadal transformed this rematch of the 2010 Wimbledon final into a glorified practice session.
The second-seeded Spaniard slipped a break point in the first game sparking a run of nine consecutive games.
Nadal won 16 more points (26 to 10) dispensing a 27-minute bagel to open.
The 33-year-old Czech didn't get on the board until holding for 1-3 in the second set sparking sympathetic applause from fans.
Raising a clenched fist and breaking into a broad grin relaxed Berdych a bit, but didn't solve his central dilemma.
The speedy Nadal beats Berdych to the ball and plays with more spin than the flat-hitting Czech.
Once Nadal started created running rallies, Berdych couldn't stay in the step as the Spaniard opened a two-set lead.
With nothing left to lose, Berdych began to swing more freely and the 17-time Grand Slam champion tightened slightly.
The twisting topspin forehand that's Nadal's signature shot saved a set point to help him force the tie beak.
When Berdych banged a big return to draw an errant backhand, he had the momentum and a 4-3 lead.
It all unraveled rather quickly. Berdych butchered a high backhand volley then sprayed an inside-out forehand.
Annoyed by both Nadal's methodical pace of play, the Spaniard's leisurely time changing ends during the breaker and the fact the serve clock wasn't working, Berdych barked at chair umpire Mo Lahyani "There is no time going? I mean do we play be time?"
Two points later, Nadal timed him out of the tournament.