Berdych sweeps Djokovic in straight sets to reach 1st Grand Slam final

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Berdych beats Djokovic for spot in Wimbledon final

WIMBLEDON, England — Tomas Berdych swept Novak Djokovic in straight sets at Wimbledon on Friday to reach his first Grand Slam final.

The 12th-seeded Czech, who upset six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, kept up his sparkling run with a 6-3, 7-6 (9), 6-3 win Friday over the third-ranked Serb on Centre Court.

Berdych’s opponent in Sunday’s final will be the winner of the second semifinal between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

The 24-year-old Berdych is the first Czech to reach the men’s final at the All England Club since Ivan Lendl in 1987. The only Czech to win the men’s title was Jan Kodes in 1973.

“The feeling is absolutely amazing. It is really tough to describe,” Berdych said. “Every young kid, from the first time he hits the ball and thinks to be a tennis player, this is the dream to be in the final of any Grand Slam. This is definitely the biggest tournament for me.”

Berdych dictated most of the play with his big first serves and punishing forehand, and seized command of the match by winning a dramatic second-set tiebreaker.

Berdych lost serve just once in 16 games and broke Djokovic three times. The Czech had 11 aces, 34 winners and 17 unforced errors.

It was Berdych’s first win over Djokovic after two defeats. Djokovic, winner of the 2008 Australian Open, fell short in his bid to reach a third Grand Slam final.

Djokovic hurt his own chances with eight double faults, including two in a row in the eighth game of the third set to lose serve and give Berdych the chance to serve out the match.

“He’s just a better player today on the court,” Djokovic said. “When I had the opportunities, I didn’t use them. In important moments I served some double faults. I was a little bit unfortunate in some points. But definitely didn’t take my chances and he used it, so he deserved to win.”

The 70-minute second set was a mini-match in itself featuring some spectacular points, controversial calls, sudden changes in momentum and saved set points by both players in a rollercoaster tiebreaker.

With Berdych serving for the set at 6-5, Djokovic broke for the first time to set up the tiebreaker. Djokovic double-faulted to go down 6-2, handing Berdych four set points.

After saving the first three, Djokovic served at 5-6. He played tremendous defense on a rally of 23 strokes. Berdych hit a forehand and came to the net, and Djokovic flipped a lob that landed at the baseline but was called out. Berdych let up and casually hit the ball with his back to the net.

The video replay showed the shot was good, and chair umpire Carlos Ramos of Portugal ordered the point replayed.

“What do you mean?” Djokovic screamed at him, thinking he should be awarded the point. He protested only briefly, then won the replayed point with a backhand winner for 6-all.

Djokovic then had two set points himself but couldn’t convert. Berdych saved one with a service winner and one with a big forehand.

With Djokovic serving at 9-10 — Berdych’s sixth set point — he double-faulted. When Djokovic reached his chair, he knocked it over with a whack of his racket. The umpire gave him a code violation for racket abuse, and Djokovic applauded sarcastically.

“I thought at that moment the referee was wrong,” he said. “I continued on playing. Maybe it would be a turning point if I won that second-set tiebreaker. Who knows? Maybe.”

Djokovic looked increasingly tired in the third set and served the back-to-back double faults to trail 5-3. In the next game, Berdych hit a service winner on his second match point.

“I didn’t feel great on the court,” Djokovic said. “I don’t know why. In that third set I kind of dropped the energy level and wasn’t managing to step it up and be aggressive.”

Saturday’s women’s final pits defending champion and three-time winner Serena Williams against 21st-ranked Russian Vera Zvonareva, playing in her first Grand Slam title match.

“I don’t care what everyone says,” the 25-year-old Zvonareva said. “I know if I can play my best tennis I can beat anyone on the other side of the net. That’s what I’m going to try to do on Saturday. I never look at any odds or comparisons. It’s not important to me.”

Williams is a 12-time Grand Slam champion.

“I’m hoping to still peak in the final,” said Williams, a scary thought from someone who hasn’t dropped a set in six matches and has served a Wimbledon record 80 aces.

Williams will be playing in her sixth Wimbledon final and 13th Grand Slam title match, and knows Centre Court at the All England Club as well as anyone in the game.

“On paper it looks like I should win,” Williams said. “But Vera, she’s beaten some good people. Her last two matches she’s been down a set, so she’s obviously a fighter. She never gives up. The biggest thing for me is to stay positive and not put too much pressure on myself.”