Defending champion Roger Federer recovered from a slow start Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Tomas Berdych.

The second seed struggled to get going at Rod Laver Arena but fought back from down a break and saved two set points in the opener before going on to win, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-4.

Federer has not dropped a set at Melbourne Park and the overwhelming tournament favorite will face surprise package Hyeon Chung in the last four.
After such an encouraging start, it was an all-too-familiar story for Berdych, the 19th seed suffering a ninth consecutive defeat against the domineering 19-time Grand Slam champion.

The imperious Swiss struck 61 winners and broke four times to stay on course for a sixth Australian Open title.
@rogerFederer sets an #AusOpen SF date with Hyeon #Chung!

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— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2018
Berdych made an imposing start, Federer looking uncharacteristically out of sorts and going a break down at 2-0 after drilling a backhand wide.
The Czech timed the ball superbly for the majority of the opening set, but Federer broke back with an exquisite backhand winner after being left disgruntled when a Hawk-Eye replay failed to appear on the screen and his challenge was unsuccessful.

Federer had saved a set point to get back on serve at 5-4 and fended off another before winning a tie-break, the 36-year-old's serve, slick movement and clean striking giving him the edge.

Berdych was presented with the first break-point opportunity of the second set when Federer netted another backhand, but the world No. 2 got himself out of trouble and combined great defense with classy groundstrokes to go a break up at 5-3.

The world No. 20 appeared to be moving without any problems despite going off court for treatment with stiffness in his back after the second set, but a stray backhand had him down a break and teetering early in the third.

A blistering forehand return enabled Berdych to break straight back and level at 2-2, but another backhand winner from Federer in the next game edged him back in front, and the Swiss made the advantage stick on this occasion to wrap up a convincing win.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Federer [2] bt Berdych [19] 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-1

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Federer – 61/30
Berdych – 22/17

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Federer – 15/5
Berdych – 4/1

BREAK POINTS WON

Federer – 4/8
Berdych – 2/5

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE

Federer – 63
Berdych – 56

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE

Federer – 83/53
Berdych – 70/51

TOTAL POINTS

Federer – 105
Berdych – 85