Federer ousts Berdych, faces fiery Korean Superman

MELBOURNE – Roger Federer swept aside Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (1), 6-3, 6-4, to reach his 14th semifinal at the Australian Open last night.

The 36-year-old Federer also became the oldest man to reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park since Ken Rosewall did it in 1977 at age 42 and the oldest man to advance to the final four at any major since Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open at age 39.

Federer, the No. 2 seed and defending champion, has now beaten Berdych for the 20th time in his career. He hasn’t lost to the Czech veteran since Dubai in 2013.

Federer banged down a big serve out wide then flicked away a forehand winner to go three match points at 40-0. He then formalized his stint in the semis as Berdych slammed his return to the net.

Federer, who hasn’t dropped a set yet in the tournament, dispatching Aljaz Bedene, Jan-Lennard Struff, Richard Gasquet and Marton Fucsovics without any undue effort, next faces South Korea’s Hyeon Chung for a spot in the final.

Earlier, Chung’s trailblazing run through the Australian Open continued as he tossed American Tennys Sandgren aside, 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-3, to become his nation’s first grand slam semifinalist.

Bespectacled like Clark Kent but playing like Superman at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, world number 58 Chung became the lowest ranked player into the last four at Melbourne Park since Marat Safin in 2004.

The 21-year-old wobbled when serving out the match, squandering a 40-0 lead and seeing a total of five match points disappear into a cloudless sky as world number 97 Sandgren battled gamely.

But his raw power ultimately prevailed, a blazing forehand into the corner causing a scrambling Sandgren to push his desperate retrieve well past the baseline.