Roger Federer is braced for his showdown with Tomas Berdych after comfortably advancing to the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.
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Rod Laver was fittingly front and centre in the arena named in his honour as Federer crushed sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-4 for his record 80th Open triumph.
Federer and Berdych are on a collision course for the quarterfinals, but they first have to score respective wins over David Goffin and Roberto Bautista Agut.
There was a big contrast between defending champion Djokovic, who is going for a record-equalling Australian Open title, and the 34-year-old Federer, who hasn’t won in Melbourne since 2010.
It’s more before a looming semi-final with Novak Djokovic that the third seed will be anticipating after falling to his Serbian nemesis in three grand slam finals in the past 18 months.
In both matches Federer comfortably out-aced Berdych and the [1.62] about that happening again looks good – even if Berdych serves well.
“I told them after all these years I still go out and train, trying to improve”.
“It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing”.
Kyrgios is still playing under a suspended ban for an off-colour remark to Federer’s compatriot Stan Wawrinka previous year and he alienated his home fans in Melbourne with more heated outbursts in his third round loss to Berdych.
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He beat Federer in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals a year ago, but Federer was back contending for titles.
Federer has beaten Berdych in the last four meetings and the last three have been decided in straight sets. However, the Swiss tennis player closely won the round 3 by a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-1.
“To be quite honest, when I walked out of the press room (in Brisbane) I thought I was somewhat tough, but at the same time I was fair because I said nice things about him”, Federer said.
“I’m pleased with the way I handled the match”, Berdych said, reports Sportal.
Looking ahead to the match, Sharapova’s employed gallows-humour saying, “it’s not like I think about what I can do worse”. “They’re good coaches.” Federer doesn’t want them to become too good, however – he’s not keen on them becoming professional players, saying he doesn’t want to end up spending 40 years on the tennis tour.
The seventh-seeded Nishikori also reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open a year ago and in 2012.
Djokovic has not won five titles at Melbourne Park without being able to negotiate a scrap, however, and despite a string of fluffed drop shots he reasserted his authority in the final set to reach the last eight for a 27th successive grand slam.
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Sharapova broke to open the match and held for a 2-0 lead.
