By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, March 30, 2017
Roger Federer fought off two match points in the tiebreak edging Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6), to reach the Miami semifinals.
Photo credit: Miami Open
The late afternoon sun was setting on Roger Federer’s semifinal hopes, but his sense of self-belief wasn’t waning.
A defiant Federer fought off two match points in the tie break outdueling Tomas Berdych, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6) in a pulsating quarterfinal thriller that propelled him into the Miami Open semifinals for the first time since 2011.
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"I definitely got very lucky at the end," Federer told ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert afterward. "I showed great heart today. I fought hard, Tomas stepped it up...It was a great match at the end. One guy had to win."
The 10th-seeded Berdych battled Federer fiercely, saving a match point at 4-5 in the final set and seizing a 6-4 lead in the tie break before double faulting on Federer's second match point to end it.
The 35-year-old Swiss, who smacked three of his 11 aces in the breaker, played with aggression reeling off the final four points to raise his record to 17-1 on the season.
The two-time Miami champion will meet a next generation star—either 12th-seeded Nick Kyrgios or 16th-seeded Alexander Zverev—for a spot in the final.
A sense of demoralizing déjà vu may have struck Berdych, who sailed a forehand beyond the baseline to surrender serve in the opening game.
There are several reasons Federer has force-fed Berdych misery winning 17 of their prior 23 meetings.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion is the smoother mover, plays with more creativity and versatility, alters spin and angle more efficiently and strikes with more self-assurance on the run.
Still Berdych has beaten Federer in many big matches, including their first encounter at the 2004 Athens Olympics, in the 2010 Miami tournament and en route to the 2010 Wimbledon final.
For much of this rematch, Berdych competed with vigor, went big and bold on critical seconds serves, showed signs of his own versatility taking the net from Federer and actually won two more total points (91 to 89).
Federer knows Berdych struggles to stay in step and in running rallies and put his running forehand to good use today.
A twisting ace down the middle from Federer denied break point helping the 35-year-old Swiss confirm the break.
Floating forward, Federer tapped an exquisite drop volley winner for 3-1.
Earning two more break points in the seventh game, Federer dispensed a Mansour Bahrami-style backhand drop shot struck with such severe underspin it completely froze a befuddled Berdych on the baseline as the Swiss broke for 5-2.
Federer finished the 26-minute first set with a flourish curling a second-serve ace down the middle that left the stretched Czech lunging at air.
It was Federer’s 15th consecutive set over Berdych reducing the 2010 finalist to a forlorn shrug toward coach Goran Ivanisevic and his support box.
Still, Berdych showed signs of life earning a break point in the second game of the second set. Federer erased the stress with three different forehands: A forehand approach down the line, a crackling crosscourt drive and an inside-out strike.
Picking up the pace of his serve, Berdych plowed through a strong hold for 3-2.
In the seventh game, Berdych gave Federer a taste of his own dazzle. Leaning low, he scooped a fine angled backhand volley winner then thumped his sixth ace for 4-3.
After a quick visit from the trainer, who cut off the taping that wrapped the Czech’s ankle, Berdych put his foot down. Federer lost his range throwing in a double fault and scattering a couple of forehand as Berdych broke for the first time.
Lured forward by a slice return, Berdych closed off the net blocking backhand volley. A searing 136 mph ace brought Berdych to set point. Dashing into the alley for a running forehand, Berdych recovered ripping a backhand to take the second set with a shout.
It was the first time Berdych took a set from Federer since the first set of the 2014 Dubai final.
As Federer stamped a love hold for 2-1 Berdych grimaced stumbling behind the baseline.
A rocket forehand pass ricocheted off a lunging Berdych’s racquet for two break points.
In the sixth game, Berdych groaned with dread slipping as he slapped a wild forehand to face a second break point. Taking his return on the rise, Federer bolted a backhand right back at his 6-foot-5 opponent whose jammed off-balance reply found the net.
Unleashing a body serve into the right hip, Federer scooped a short-hop forehand that slid off the baseline leaving Berdych whiffing at air and staring at the spot the ball struck. That shot consolidated the break for 5-2.
Serving for his first Crandon Park semifinal in six years, Federer stumbled. One of the sport’s most convincing closers double-faulted, watched a Berdych return buzz by him then badly shanked a forehand dropping serve at love.
A grunting Berdych was leaning left when Federer fired a crosscourt forehand behind him for match point. Berd went bold blasting a 120 mph second serve down the middle to nullify match point. Fighting off a deep return, Berdych redirected a squatting backhand leveling 5-all.
Clubbing an ace, Berdych boomed into the tie break with a love hold then cranked a forehand down the line earning the mini-break.
Four mini breaks opened the breaker as both men battled jitters. Setting his body behind the ball, Berdych ripped a backhand down the line for double match point at 6-4. As the crowd hushed, Federer stepped in driving a return that forced an errant forehand off the back foot to save the first match point. A jolting Federer serve down the T erased the second match point.
Slashing his 11th ace brought Federer a second match point. This time, Berdych spit up a double fault bringing an ignominious end to an inspired match from both men.