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Federer upset by Berdych at Key Biscayne
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-31 13:39
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KEY BISCAYNE, Florida - Roger Federer was suffered an upset loss to Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open on Tuesday.
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 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns a shot to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic's during their match at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida, March 30, 2010. [Agencies]
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With the win, Berdych ended a streak of eight consecutive losses to Federer. The Czech also had lost 11 matches in a row against top-10 opponents.
Roddick beat German Benjamin Becker 7-6 (4), 6-3. Nadal defeated fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Three-time champion Venus Williams reached the semifinals by defeating No. 6-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-3, 6-1.
The top-ranked Federer won a succession of spectacular rallies to salvage the second set, but converted only two of 10 break-point chances in the match and committed 62 unforced errors, many on an unreliable backhand.
"I fought as much as I could," Federer said. "My game has issues at the moment. I'm definitely lacking timing. I don't know where that comes from."
Federer held a match point at 6-5 in the second tiebreaker, but Berdych hit a forehand winner. Two points later, Federer sailed a forehand long to give Berdych the win at 12.16 a.m. local time.
"After a match like that, the feeling is great," Berdych said. "I'm really happy the way I finish it."
Two points earlier, Federer held a match point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker. But Berdych hit a forehand winner, then wagged his tongue in relief.
Federer had problems from the start, committing 18 errors to four by Berdych in the first nine games. Federer lost the final eight points of the opening set, double-faulting on set point.
He was twice two points from defeat in the second set before pulling it out, but his shot making became more erratic again in the final set. He rallied from a break down, but hit five errant groundstrokes in the decisive tiebreaker.
"It fuels my desire to go to the practice courts, because I don't like to lose these type of matches," Federer said.
The No 6-seeded Roddick rallied past Becker on the strength of his dominating serve. He dug out of a 1-4, love-40 hole in the first set and won 34 of his final 39 service points, including all six in the tiebreaker.
Roddick said experience helped with the turnaround.
"When things aren't going my way, I'm probably better now," he said. "Six years ago on the court my highs were a lot higher, and the lows were a lot lower. If I would have gotten down early, I don't know if I would have stayed the course."
Roddick has been broken only once through three matches and on Wednesday plays No. 33-seeded Nicolas Almagro of Spain, who eliminated No. 27 Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3).
