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8/20/11 5:58 AM | Ricky Dimon
Tomas Berdych takes out Roger Federer in straight sets on Friday in Cincinnati. Berdych is through to a semifinal showdown against Novak Djokovic.
Just hours after Rafael Nadal tumbled out of the Western & Southern Open on Friday afternoon, Roger Federer suffered the same fate.
Federer fell to Tomas Berdych 6-2, 7-6(3) after one hour and 31 minutes during quarterfinal action. Berdych fired 10 aces while double-faulting just once en route to scoring his fourth career win over Federer.
Right away it was clear that Federer was in for something much different from what transpired in his first two matches--straight-set victories over Juan Martin Del Potro and James Blake. Berdych broke serve in the third game of the match for a 2-1 lead as his opponent's forehand collapsed. The ninth-ranked Czech dropped only six points in four service games so one break would have been enough in the first set, but he added one more at 4-2 for good measure.
Federer raised his level in the second, but he continued to be hopeless against the Berdych serve. In fact, the third-ranked Swiss won just a single point in 20 tries when Berdych put his first serve in play during set two. Berdych again faced no break points, while Federer survived one in the opening game and two more in a marathon 11th game to force a tiebreaker.
Cincinnati's No. 10 seed never trailed in the decider, although he gave back mini-breaks twice during the early stages. At 3-3 Berdych finally regained control once and for all. He pummeled a serve for 4-3 then earned two straight return points both thanks to Federer forehand errors. Berdych wrapped up the proceedings on his first match point at 6-3 with a backhand winner.
"I was winning quite easily as far as games and I was able to play something more on his serve," said Berdych, who is now 4-9 lifetime against Federer. "It makes me more confident and then I can go more for the shots, especially on his second serve."
"I definitely didn't feel like I was getting a great read on his serve today," added Federer. "I thought he served well. He played a good match. Unfortunately I didn't play a very good tiebreak and he was better than me today."
Next up for Berdych is Novak Djokovic, who overcame Gael Monfils in three sets. The other semifinal pits Mardy Fish against Andy Murray. Fish took out Nadal in straight sets earlier on Friday.
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Why when Rafa gets ko'd Federer soon follows,but when it's reversed Rafa pulls through.This is one thing that annoys me from Fed.
Lobo , 8/20/11 9:47 AM
Lobo...lucky you... only one thing! :o
zare , 8/20/11 11:34 AM
@lobo
@zare
hahaha! you both were funny =))
are rafa and roger on a hunger-for-championship strike?
raghav , 8/20/11 8:49 PM
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Roger Federer 
Tomas Berdych 
How come that players that are known as for not being stable at crucial moments like Berdych, are not afraid of terminator Federer? This gives high expectations for Berdych for US Open too.
vjakov , 8/20/11 7:21 AM