The 19-time Swiss legend, Roger Federer, cruised into the semifinals of the 2018 Australian Open by brushing past his longtime Czech rival, Tomas Berdych. The World Number two toppled over the Birdman in pristine straight sets, in 2 hours and 14 minutes of time in the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open held and claimed his 92nd victory at the Melbourne Park. The Australians crammed the Rod Laver Arena to witness the battle between the Europeans on a pleasant Wednesday evening.
2018 Australian Open: Federer hikes towards his fourteenth semifinal at the Melbourne Park
The first set took off with the Czech man serving, he serves an ace on the game point and holds on to his serve. The very next game turns out to be an early break of serve for Berdych, as Federer flays a wide backhand on the nineteenth seed’s break point. The mob at the Rod Laver Arena felt better when Federer held his serve to 15 at 3-1. Berdych was flourishing with his tennis skills over the net as well as from the baseline and took a 5-2 lead. As Federer serves to stay in the set, a scintillating backhand ace from left to right from Roger’s end in the game rejoiced the crowd at Melbourne Park. The Swiss maestro held his serve at 5-3. The World Number 19 serves for the set but silly mistakes from the Czech’s end gave Federer two break points on Berdych’s serve. Federer challenges Berdych’s next serve, but the HawkEye betrays, and the ball was called in. Moving on with disappointment Federer loses his break points. Berdych earns his premier set point by dropping the ball on Federer’s side, but the World Number two’s down the line backhand saves the set point. Federer grabs the next two points and breaks the Czech. Federer just took a minute to equalise the set to 5-5.
Later, Berdych held his serve to love and leads 6-5. Once again, Berdych was awarded a set point due Federer’s double-fault. Berdych failing to accept the bonus pummelled wide backhand and loses the crucial point. With Roger smacking a volley took the set to the tie-breaker. The Swiss tennis ace dominated the tie-breaker and earns five sets points, he swiftly wraps up the set on his first set point.
In the second set, the European men were holding their serves until 3-3. But, soon Federer’s backhand slices and his offensive playing style were forbidding Berdych to hold his serve and gave Roger a 5-3 lead. As Federer serves for his second set, he quickly earns two sets points. An error from the Czech man’s side conveys Federer a lead of two sets to love. In the third set, the Swiss man broke Berdych’s service twice and the Tomas could just reciprocate it just once. The phenomenal tennis action by Federer left everyone spellbound in the stadium as he pulls off the match on the first match point and establishes himself into the last four of the 2018 Australian Open after quashing Berdych 7-6(7/1), 6-3, 6-4.
Federer will know take on the unseeded Hyeon Chung in his 43rd Grand Slam semifinal. Chung is the first South Korean ever to make it to the semifinals of a Grand Slam event.
Tags: Australian Open, Australian Open 2018, Grand Slam, Melbourne, Melbourne Park, Roger Federer, Tomas Berdych
