Berdych joins Nadal in final
Rafael Nadal will play his fourth final at Wimbledon on Sunday, after defeating Andy Murray in three sets.
The Spaniard has shown his best Friday as he took the measure of Columbia, seeded fourth, 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-4. He needs one more win his second Wimbledon title and eighth in a Grand Slam.
Nadal’s opponent Sunday will be the Czech Tomas Berdych, who beat Novak Djokovic in three sets in the other semifinal.
Nadal has dashed hopes of Murray to become the first Briton to win the tournament since Fred Perry English in 1936. No representative of the Queen has reached the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938.
The Scot has not played badly but never had a real impact on important points.
A single break was enough for Nadal to take the first set in 37 minutes, without ever having given any opportunity to Murray rob him of his commitment.
Unable to convert two break points in the second set, when Murray has transferred after a tiebreak won 8-6 by the Spaniard, after 63 minutes.
Murray, aged 23, has raised hopes in the third set when he took a 4-2 lead. But Nadal then removed the four games following control of the proceedings.
“I had a very good game, he takes to beat Andy,” said Nadal.
“I have not done a bad game at all, for his part, Murray revealed. I did not fully returned, but otherwise my game was pretty good. I sometimes put in a good position, but I don ‘I could not enjoy it. ”
In the first semifinal of the day, Berdych, who had created a huge surprise with the six-time champion Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, continued its momentum by winning 6-3, 7-6 (9) 6-3.
Berdych, aged 24, is the first Czech to reach the final of Wimbledon since Ivan Lendl in 1987. January Kodes is the only Czech to win the title in men in 1973.
“The feeling is absolutely incredible. It’s really hard to describe,” said Berdych. I think for any young person who begins to hit balls, it’s a dream to be in the final of any Grand Slam. It’s definitely the biggest tournament for me. ”
Berdych dictated play for most of the match with his powerful forehand service and lightning. He took control of the match by winning a dramatic tiebreaker in the second set. He lost his serve only once in 16 games and he broke Djokovic at three occasions. The Czech has totaled 11 aces, 34 moves Winners and committed only 17 unforced errors.
This is the first victory at the expense of Berdych Djokovic after two defeats.
Djokovic, winner of the Australian Open in 2008, failed in his attempt to reach his third final of a Grand Slam.
The Serb has not helped his cause with eight double faults, including two in a row in the eighth game of the third set to concede its service and enable Berdych serving for the match.
The second set, which required 70 minutes, constituted in itself a mini-game in the match with some spectacular shots, controversial decisions, changes of pace and saved in extremis points in a tiebreaker caper .
With Berdych serving and ahead 6-5, Djokovic got his first break to force the holding of the tiebreaker. Led 6-2 in the tiebreaker, Djokovic saved five balls then set and he finally gave up on a double fault at 10-9.