Slam No 20 beckons for Federer

MELBOURNE: A momentary loss of Roger Federer’s trademark cool enlivened an otherwise routine victory by the defending champion over Tomas Berdych as the Swiss player moved into the semi-finals of the Australian Open yesterday.

A ninth successive defeat of the burly Czech, 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4, was not all smooth sailing for the 36-year-old, who snapped at umpire Fergus Murphy in the first set. His mini-rant about malfunctioning Hawkeye technology when Berdych served for the set said much about the struggle Federer had to contain the 19th seed.

But in the end all was well for Federer, who reached his record-extending 43rd Grand Slam semi-final where he will face 21-year-old South Korean sensation Chung Hyeon.

It is the 11th time Federer has reached the final four of a Slam without dropping a set and, with Rafa Nadal out, he is clear favourite to win a 20th Grand Slam and sixth Australian Open.

Federer had dropped only two sets in his previous eight matches against Berdych but came desperately close to losing the opener on Rod Laver Arena when the 32-year-old served at 5-3.

Berdych had a set point but Federer blazed a backhand past him to snuff it out, before breaking with an equally sublime swish of his matt black racket to break.

The main talking point of the match was a few points earlier with Berdych 15-40 down. Federer thought a serve was out despite no call and immediately challenged.

Unfortunately, the video playback failed and Federer was told by Murphy that the serve was in.

When announcing that Federer had lost his challenge, the Swiss saw red and marched to the chair.

“Are you comfortable with this?” he said as the crowd booed. “You can’t steal my challenge. You’re okay with this?”

Federer then dumped a forehand in the net before re-focussing and taking the set into a tiebreak in which he allowed Berdych one point, taking the set with an impudent drop shot.

Later, with his 92nd Australian Open victory in the bag, Federer played down the incident.

“I hung around, got a bit lucky, a bit angry, a bit frustrated at the umpire,” he said.

After the first-set dramas it was routine with Federer breaking decisively for 5-3 with an easy backhand winner after Berdych’s half-volley sat up begging.

Berdych could have thrown in the towel when he fell behind in the third set, but kept Federer on his toes by breaking back. But it only delayed the inevitable. — Reuters