Berdych Saves 3 Match Points to Defeat Federer

News

Scores

Rankings

Lucky Letcord Podcast

Shop

Pro Gear

Pickleball

Gear Sale

Add to Flipboard Magazine.

Berdych Saves 3 Match Points to Defeat Federer

By Chris Oddo

(March 1, 2013) -- Tomas Berdych rallied to defeat Roger Federer in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship semifinals, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, saving three match points in the process.

"I feel absolutely fantastic," said an elated Berdych afterwards. "It's always a great battle with him and just to be on court with Roger is a really special moment."

The victory, Berdych's fifth in his last eight meetings against Federer, propels the third seed into the finals where an undefeated Novak Djokovic will be waiting.

Federer looked to be in good shape against the man who dumped him from the 2012 U.S. Open quarterfinals in four sets when he broke in the eighth game of the first set to take a 5-3 lead then served the set out without a hiccup.

But in the second set, Berdych and his heavy metal thunder began to find holes in the Federer defense. Berdych broke for a 4-2 lead and consolidated to lead 5-2. But the Czech allowed Federer back on equal footing when he failed to serve the set out at 5-3.

Federer would have his chances to close the a victory out in straight sets, starting with Berdych serving at 5-5. After a dazzling backhand pass by Federer put Berdych in a 15-30 hole, the Czech netted a forehand to give Federer two break points.

Berdych would hold his ground however, saving three break points in the game in total, and he would then force Federer to save a set point in the next game, which he did, when a Berdych forehand sailed wide.

In the tiebreaker, Federer took a 6-4 lead with an ace down the t, but Berdych rallied, forcing a Federer error on the first match point with a blistering forehand, then hitting a couple of perfectly placed serves to lead 7-6.

Federer would win the next two points on his serve to earn another match point before Berdych won the next three to force the decider.

"It's obviously unfortunate," the five-time Dubai champion would later say. "Pity to lose that one, but Tomas did well to hang in there."

In the third set an inspired Berdych took the play to Federer. He didn't face a break point and managed to earn seven break points of his own, connecting in the fifth game to take a break lead that he would never relinquish.

Try as he may, there was no way for Federer to hide the disappointment of losing to a player who seems to have his number of late. "You do all the right things for so long, and then at the end you've got to explain why you didn't hit two shots decent," he said.

In the other semifinal, three-time Dubai champion Novak Djokovic pushed his record to a perfect 17-0 for 2013 with an impressive 6-3, 7-6(4) stonewalling of fourth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro.

After a dominant first set by Djokovic, Del Potro pushed back to challenge the six-time Grand Slam champion. The Argentine jumped out to an early 3-0 lead but a committed Djokovic stormed back to lead 5-3 before Del Potro mounted another rally to get on serve and force a second-set tiebreaker.

Djokovic, who failed to serve out the match in the second set, believed his mental fortitude had everything to do with the win. "I didn't allow myself to be negative," he said. "It's become a tradition in this tournament to drop serve when I'm serving for the match. Hopefully it's not going to happen another time tomorrow."

Djokovic owns a career 12-1 record against Berdych, with his lone loss coming at Wimbledon in 2010.

(Photo Credit: AP)