Federer struggles past Berdych, into the quarter final.

After being two sets down and not in the best of situations in the third, it all seemed to go wrong for former world no. 1 Roger Federer. But the Swiss ace came back in emphatic fashion to go through to the next round of the Australian Open and keep his hopes of winning a record equaling 14^th grand slam singles title alive.

Federer finished the match in around 3 and half hours defeating his opponent Tomas Berdych 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena. This was only the fourth time in his entire career that Federer has come back to win from two sets down.

Federer’s Czech opponent dominated the first set completely as he broke federer’s serve very early in the match. The two were on level terms in the second set with both fighting tooth and nail in the tie breaker but it was Berdych again who came out on top.

After that it was all Federer as far as the sets went. But credit to the 20^th seeded Berdych for putting up a fight against Federer. Berdych lost an inch or two off his game went he had to be treated for an injury. The break in play seemed to hamper his tempo but it surely helped Federer to get his focus back into the game.

It was a lucky escape for Federer who could so easily be on the flight back home had he not got his focus back. After he took a 4-0 lead in the fifth set it was evident that the 13 time grand slam tennis winner had avoided one of the biggest upsets this year.

Federer’s faces Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter final. Del Potro defeated Marin Cilic, the 19^th seed to book at date with Federer.

Elsewhere, Andy Roddick, the seventh seed got past the 21st seed Tommy Robredo, 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. Roddick’s next faces either the third-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic or Marcos Baghdatis.

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