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Live Commentary: Australian Open quarter-finals - Novak Djokovic vs. Tomas Berdych - as it happened

Live text coverage of the quarter-final match between Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open
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Novak Djokovic has booked his place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a win in four sets over Tomas Berdych.

The reigning champion stormed to a first-set win, before the Czech fought back to level the match in the second.

Two dominant sets sealed the win for the the Serb, who appeared to have recovered well from his five-set battle against Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday.

Djokovic will now face David Ferrer in the last four.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


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Good morning! We're just over 20 minutes away from the second of the men's quarter-finals.

History is not in Berdych's favour. In 12 previous meetings with Djokovic, he has taken a win just once.

However, Berdych has as good a chance as ever today. The number five seed had an easy straight-sets win over Kevin Anderson in the fourth round, while Stanislas Wawrinka made the world number one toil for five hours just two days ago. No-one is doubting the Serbian's fitness levels, but that's got to have had an impact.

Berdych has not done as well at the Australian Open as at the other Grand Slams. The 27-year-old has made the semis of the French and the US, and was the beaten finalist at Wimbledon in 2010. It was on his way to the final against Rafael Nadal that he recorded his solitary win over Djokovic.

Djokovic is going for his third consecutive Australian Open title, and his fourth in total, having also won in 2008.

David Ferrer awaits the final in the semi-finals. Djokovic would be happy with the match-up, having won his last five matches against the Spaniard, while Berdych has three wins in 10 meetings with the fourth seed.

Berdych has had a fairly easy route to the last eight, and has yet to drop a set during the tournament. Excluding the Wawrinka match, it's been a relatively straightforward tournament for Djokovic too. This could be one of the closest matches the pair have been involved in during the tournament.

While we're waiting for the players to come out on court, let's take a look at tomorrow's schedule for the Rod Laver Arena.

The ladies get things started, with Victoria Azarenka first on court to take on Svetlana Kuznetsova, before Sloane Stephens faces a tough match against her childhood inspiration Serena Williams.

Andy Murray's match will be third on court in the first of two men's quarter-finals against Jeremy Chardy. Unfortunately for British tennis fans, that's likely to be starting around 6am, so make sure you've got plenty of coffee in!

In the evening session, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga goes against Roger Federer, in what should be a close match. We'll have live commentaries of all four of tomorrow's quarter-finals here at Sports Mole from midnight.

Looking at the crowd, it seems there's a lot of support for Novak Djokovic. There's a big ex-pat Serbian community in Australia, with the latest census estimating that there are nearly 70,000 residents in the Australia of Serbian descent, and over 17,000 Serbian-born residents. Being a three-time champion of the tournament won't harm his popularity with the crowd either.

Berdych is out of the changing room and walks onto the court. He's followed moments later by Djokovic. Big cheers for both players from the Rod Laver Arena crowd.

They're out on court a little later than scheduled but we won't hold it against them. They'll be given a few minutes to warm up on court, but hopefully we'll be underway within the next 10 minutes.

British umpire James Keothavong, brother of British number three Anne Keothavong, will preside over the match.

Just a quick look at the conditions before the match gets underway. The roof is open at the Rod Laver Arena with no rain expected today. It's around 22°C and 43% humidity with bright clear skies.

Berdych won the pre-match toss, and has chosen to serve in the opening game. Here we go...

An easy start for the Czech as he comfortably holds his opening service game. Djokovic is moving quite well despite his five-hour thriller on Sunday.

Djokovic is showing no signs of any aches or pains from Sunday as he comfortable takes his opening service game. A solid start from both players.

BREAK! There's a little wobble from Berdych early in the game, as Djokovic goes 30-0 up, but a bad line call followed by a challenge from Berdych gives him the momentum to get back in the game. Djokovic gets a break point when Berdych sends his forehand long, but a big serve has too much pace for the Serb to control the return. Djokovic wins an impressive rally at deuce to bring up another break point, which he converts with a stunning forehand winner. Excellent stuff from the reigning champion.

There were some long rallies in that last game, which might not be to Djokovic's liking. He's moving superbly so far, but maybe won't relish a full match of long points.

Djokovic looks very relaxed as he cruises to another game. He smashes a forehand winner past Berdych before forcing errors on the Czech's return with big serves.

BREAK! Berdych has a few problems getting his first serve in, and his second serve really doesn't present his opponent with much of a challenge. A stunning forehand winner brings up two break points for Djokovic. He misses the first but is gifted the game when Berdych sends the ball long, and now has two breaks in this set.

I had expected a bit more resistance from Berdych, but Djokovic is playing him off the court early in this match. The Czech is in danger of being on the wrong side of a straight-sets match if he doesn't find another gear soon.

A sensational game from Djokovic. He races to a 40-0 lead, before beating Berdych with a cross-court forehand which leaves the Czech rooted to the spot. Djokovic needs just one game to take the set, after only 25 minutes of play.

SET! Djokovic 6-1 Berdych

Well that was quick! Just 28 minutes in to the match and Djokovic is already a set up. After a good start, Berdych never looked entirely comfortable on serve, while Djokovic is moving around the court with ease despite coming off the back of the Wawrinka match.

There were some fantastic shots from Djokovic during that opening set too. There have been quite a few rallies, with the world number one taking the points from most of them with some phenomenal winners.

BREAK! Just the start the Czech needed! A few sloppy serves from Djokovic help Berdych to bring up his first break point of the match, which he converts with some great play from the baseline.

Berdych opens the game with an ace. Djokovic sends back a forehand that catches the net, but Berdych is able to rush in to the net to smash a volley past the reigning champion. The Serb shows off his sensational speed around the court as Berdych tries to find a winner in a rally at 30-30, before he manages to slot a volley past the world number one. Berdych looks a different player in this set.

Djokovic hasn't found a good rhythm on serve in this set, missing his first serve on a couple of occasions to allow Berdych to take a 30-15 lead in the game. However, the fifth seed catches the ball on the net, taking it wide to let Djokovic back in the game. Another miss from the Serb takes the game to deuce, but Berdych finds the net again to give Djokovic his first hold of the second set.

Djokovic is looking aggressive against the Berdych serve, and the pressure forces the Czech to a double fault, but he finds his form to serve out the game with a superb ace, and remain a break up.

Berdych brings up two break points with a forehand winner. Djokovic saves the first with a two-handed backhand which sends Berdych the wrong way, before a long return from the Czech brings up deuce. The world number one digs deep to force advantage, and gets the hold when the fifth seed sends his forehand long to let Djokovic off the hook. That surely would have been the set had he have taken the break.

Djokovic is on the attack early in this game again, but Berdych stuns him with a sensational hooked forehand winner from the baseline that lands just on the line, before sealing the game with an ace.

A much easier service game for Djokovic this time. The world number one faces little resistance from Berdych as he races to a 40-0 lead before smashing a winner past his opponent.

It's another bright start to the game for Djokovic, but the top seed loses his cool when he misses a return. Berdych beats him with another volley, and needs just one game to level the match.

Berdych has been impressive at the net so far in this match, winning 11 of 14 points where he has moved in for a volley.

Berdych comes in to the net for another volley, but this time Djokovic is ready and lobs it over his head. The Serb then serves his first double fault of the match, and Berdych gets a set point. However, the reigning champion is able to save it and take the game, meaning Berdych will have to try to serve the set out.

SET! Djokovic 6-1 4-6 Berdych

Djokovic sends back a high return, which Berdych tries to lob past him, but the Serb reads it well to send it back to the fifth seed. The Czech tries to win the point with a delicate volley, but he mis-hits it, and it goes wide to give Djokovic two break points. Berdych superbly saves both, taking the game to deuce. Djokovic is frustrated at himself for letting Berdych back in to the game, and responds by sending a few shots long, eventually gifting Berdych a set point, then mis-hitting the return to allow his opponenet to level the match.

The second set was a complete contrast to the first, lasting for 54 minutes. Berdych looked mighty, finding an extra level when Djokovic looked threatening against his serve. Djokovic, meanwhile, looks rattled. After dominating the first set, he has allowed the Czech right back in to this match, and rarely looked comfortable on serve in the second set. This next set will be crucial.

A good opening service game from Djokovic. He places the ball superbly, making returning the ball difficult for Berdych, and closes the game with an ace.

BREAK! Djokovic is looking much more composed in this set, and races to a 40-15 lead for two break points. Berdych finds a big serve to help him save the first, but tries too hard against the second and sends the ball long, giving the reigning champion and early advantage in the third set.

After opening up a quick 40-0 lead, Djokovic looks to take the game with a drop shot, but the speedy Berdych rushes to the net to make the return. Djokovic finds a winner on the next point though, and is looking good for a 2 sets to one lead.

BREAK! Berdych has switched off in this set! Djokovic takes a two-break advantage, finishing the game with a forehand down the sideline. Berdych seems to have lost his ability to move around the baseline.

It's just too easy for the top seed at the minute as he races to a 5-0 lead in the third set. Berdych is powerless to stop Djokovic as he smashes winners from all around the court. In their 12 previous matches, there has never been a 6-0 set. Berdych will need to find something here to avoid to first.

Berdych takes a 40-0 lead, but a double fault lets Djokovic back in the game. The Czech comes in to the net again for a volley, and the world number one tries to lob the ball over his head, but puts too much power in to the shot, and it goes long.

SET! Djokovic 6-1 4-6 6-1 Berdych

Berdych starts the game well, but the momentum shifts when Djokovic comes out on top in a sublime rally. A long return from the Czech seals the set for his opponent.

The third set was virtually a carbon copy of the first, with Berdych rarely threatening the Djokovic serve, and looking shaky during his own service games. The result is the same score as the first set, taking the same amount of time, 28 minutes.

Better from Berdych at the start of the fourth set. The Czech takes a 40-15 lead with a stunning smash, before repeating the shot at the net to take the game.

It's a comfortable first service game from Djokovic, controlling each point from the baseline. Both players are looking sharp so far in this set.

BREAK! A long rally ends with Berdych finding the net with his backhand to give Djokovic a brace of break points. Berdych saves the first but then sends his forehand long to give Djokovic the break.

Djokovic is well in control of this match now. There are too many unforced errors from Berdych, allowing the defending champion an easy hold again.

Berdych misses a first serve due to some rumblings in the crowd, Djokovic very sportingly allows him to retake the serve, and in the end it's a good game for the Czech, as he remains in touch in this set.

Djokovic is yet to drop a point against his first serve in this set, and has lost just 10 all match. It's yet another comfortable hold for the Serb, who may now just be cruising towards the semi-finals.

Djokovic catches Berdych out with a sublime drop shot from the back of the court, but Berdych is determined not to go another break down, and continues to use play from the net to his advantage.

Djokovic catches Berdych out with a sublime drop shot from the back of the court, but Berdych is determined not to go another break down, and continues to use play from the net to his advantage.

Berdych has to stretch to reach the ball and emerges rubbing his back in pain. Djokovic hits another ace to seal the game, and needs just one more to secure his place in the last four.

Berdych has to stretch to reach the ball and emerges rubbing his back in pain. Djokovic hits another ace to seal the game, and needs just one more to secure his place in the last four.

Berdych is wrong-footed by Djokovic as the Serb pushes to finish the match in this game, but the Czech is too strong and forces Djokovic to try to serve out the match.

Berdych is wrong-footed by Djokovic as the Serb pushes to finish the match in this game, but the Czech is too strong and forces Djokovic to try to serve out the match.

Match point for Djokovic.

Match point for Djokovic.

He's missed it! Djokovic puts the ball in the net, and the game heads to deuce.

He's missed it! Djokovic puts the ball in the net, and the game heads to deuce.

Another match point comes and goes for the world number one. Berdych is not going down without a fight.

Another match point comes and goes for the world number one. Berdych is not going down without a fight.

Berdych saves another match point, if he's played like this all match he wouldn't be here now. A volley brings up the fourth match point for the top seed.

Berdych saves another match point, if he's played like this all match he wouldn't be here now. A volley brings up the fourth match point for the top seed.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-4 Berdych

GAME, SET AND MATCH! Djokovic 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-4 Berdych

Berdych's late resistance is in vain as Djokovic powers through to set up a semi-final against David Ferrer of Spain.

Berdych's late resistance is in vain as Djokovic powers through to set up a semi-final against David Ferrer of Spain.

Speaking on court after the match, Djokovic said: "I was hoping to have a shorter match, just not to go over five hours like the last match. It was a really nice atmosphere.

"It's always going to be tough against Tomas, he is an established top 10 player for the last five or six years."


Speaking on court after the match, Djokovic said: "I was hoping to have a shorter match, just not to go over five hours like the last match. It was a really nice atmosphere.

"It's always going to be tough against Tomas, he is an established top 10 player for the last five or six years."


Berdych played well in the second set, but had little resistance in the final two sets, only fighting hard when Djokovic had match point.

That's all from the quarter-finals at the Australian Open today. Don't forget to check out our match reports and reaction to today's matches, and re-join us from midnight for the second day of the quarter-finals, with Andy Murray, Serena Williams and Roger Federer all in action. Until then, good bye.

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