Roger Federer has been defeated by Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the semi final of Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday. Berdych won the match by 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4.
This was the 17th clash between these two players. Out of the previous 16 matches, Berdych had won 10, while, Federer had won 6.
At one point of time, Federer was on the verge of winning the match. In the tie breaker of the second set, he had the match points, but the Swiss superstar lost the plot from that stage and eventually got defeated.
Federer looked disappointed while talking to the reporters after the match. He said, “It really hurts when you lose in this manner. I had match points and I should have won the match, but, unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”
On the other hand, Berdych was ecstatic after securing victory over Federer. He said, “I was really nervous in the tie breaker, but, somehow, I pulled that off. Winning the second set gave me a lot of confidence and then, I think I played at my best in the third set. A couple of poor shots by me in the tie breaker could have secured Roger’s victory. But, fortunately, I managed to turn things around.”
Federer had a fine start in the match. He didn’t drop his serve even once in the opening set and with a breakthrough in the eighth game; he won the first set by 6-3. At this point my bonus bet on a Federer straight set win was looking good, and Unibet must have been shaking in their boots. Sadly it didn’t quite come to pass.
In the second set, Federer didn’t manage to start well. He dropped his serve in the 6th game and was trailed by 2-5 at the end of the 7th game. However, he levelled the scores with a breakthrough in the 9th game and then, with a serve hold in the 10th game. The next two sets went with the serve and the set was extended into the tie breaker.
In the tie breaker, Federer started superbly and he had three match points. But, he couldn’t capitalize on any of them. He eventually lost the tie breaker and thus, the second set as well.
In the third and final set, Berdych was at the top of his game. He took the lead of 3-2 with a serve break in the 5th game. He didn’t lose the advantage after that and held his entire serve to win the third set by 6-4.
In the final match, Berdych will face the no. 1 player in the world, Novak Djokovic.