Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic celebrates after defeating David Ferrer of Spain during their quarterfinal at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014. AP
MELBOURNE — Tomas Berdych dominated early and then withstood a comeback attempt by third-seeded David Ferrer in a 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win Tuesday that earned him a spot in the Australian Open semifinals for the first time.
No. 7 Berdych will play the winner of Tuesday’s later quarterfinal between three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic and No. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka.
Berdych clinched the 3-hour, 4-minute match on his second match point when Ferrer’s return of serve went wide. The 2010 Wimbledon champion has now reached the semifinals of every major, breaking a sequence of three quarterfinal defeats at Melbourne Park.
Berdych has now won three of his last five matches against Ferrer, a long-time top five contender.
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