Roger Federer saw his dream of becoming the first man in 87 years to win six US Opens destroyed by big-swinging Czech Tomas Berdych Wednesday in the Swiss legend's earliest New York defeat in nine years
The 17-time Grand Slam title winner, bidding to reach his 33rd Grand Slam semi-final and ninth in a row at the US Open, was beaten 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 by sixth-seeded Berdych.
"It couldn't be better," Berdych said. "There's no better moment so far than this one."
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It was Federer's worst defeat at the tournament since losing to David Nalbandian in the fourth round in 2003.
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Berdych, who went into the quarter-final with a 4-11 record against the world number one, will now face British third seed Andy Murray for a place in Sunday's title match.
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"I'll just try to bring something from today and try to add something a little more for my next match," Berdych said.
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Tomas Berdych celebrates defeating Roger Federer. Photo: AFP
The 26-year-old Czech has reached the last four in New York for the first time while Saturday will be his first Grand Slam semi-final since he reached the Wimbledon final in 2010.
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That was the tournament where he also defeated Federer in the quarter-finals.
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In an extraordinary reversal of fortune, Wednesday's clash was Berdych's first appearance in a night match on the main stadium.
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Wimbledon champion Federer, by contrast, went into the tie with a perfect 21 wins in his night-time outings.
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There was no sign of the drama to come when Federer, who hadn't played since Saturday as a result of Mardy Fish's decision to withdraw from their fourth-round clash, broke to lead in the first game of the quarter-final.
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But Berdych levelled at 3-3 before romping through the tie-break, taking the opener with his fifth ace.
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The big Czech broke for a 1-0 lead in the second set with Federer under siege, having to save two break points in the fifth game.
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His resistance cracked, however, under the relentless barrage as a brutal forehand, on the back of two double faults by the top seed, made it a double-break for 5-2.
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Federer retrieved one of the breaks in the eighth game before Berdych served it out with a love game in the 10th.
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Berdych was 1-0 with a break in the third before Federer pulled it back at 3-3 when the Czech suddenly looked vulnerable with a third double fault of his own.
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Federer held to love for 4-3, broke for 5-3 and then claimed the third set when Berdych failed to chase down a drop shot as the top seed looked to pull off a third fightback from two sets to love down in Grand Slams this year.
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But Berdych settled himself to break for 5-3 in the fourth set and give himself a chance to serve for the match.
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He went comfortably to three match points and claimed a famous win when Federer dumped a lame service return into the net, the last of his uncharacteristic 40 unforced errors.
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