Tomas Berdych reaches Australian Open quarter-final

  • Czech Tomas Berdych demonstrated his experience by beating Fabio Fognini
  • Berdych fired 37 winners on his way to a rather comfortable victory on Monday 
  • Fognini was up against it right from when he suffered a foot injury in the first set 

Czech Tomas Berdych belied his lowest seeding at a grand slam since 2010 by sweeping into his seventh Australian Open quarter-final with a convincing 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Fabio Fognini on Monday.

Showing great mobility for a big man, Berdych fired 37 winners to neutralise the potentially tricky world number 25 in a sometimes niggly two-hour contest on Margaret Court Arena.

Italian Fognini, looking restricted by a foot injury in the opening set, briefly grabbed control of the match for breaks in the second and third sets but Berdych would not be denied.

Tomas Berdych celebrates after beating Fabio Fognini in straight sets on Monday

Berdych was comfortably the better player and he was ruthless in his approach

Berdych was comfortably the better player and he was ruthless in his approach

Fognini shakes Berdych's hand after losing the fourth round Australian Open match-up

Fognini shakes Berdych’s hand after losing the fourth round Australian Open match-up

Berdych’s best showing at the Australian Open is a finish of a semi-final place in 2014 and 2015.

He has, however, always said the surface suits his game and his range of shots. 

Berdych next meets Roger Federer, who beat him in the third round last year on his way to winning the title, or Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for a place in his third Melbourne Park semi-final. 

Berdych's strong serve helped him throughout the match as he blew Fognini away

Berdych’s strong serve helped him throughout the match as he blew Fognini away

The Italian was also hindered by a foot injury, which caused him great frustration

The Italian was also hindered by a foot injury, which caused him great frustration



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