Australian Open 2015: Off-colour Rafael Nadal suffers shock first loss to Tomas Berdych in 18 attempts to crash out of quarter-finals

The longest losing streak in men’s tennis among current players finally came to an end in dramatic fashion here today as Tomas Berdych beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in 18 attempts. Nadal had not lost to the world No 7 for eight years, but the Spaniard’s mounting physical problems appeared finally to get the better of him as Berdych won 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 to book his place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Berdych already shared the record for the longest losing run of 17 tour-level defeats with Vitas Gerulaitis (against Bjorn Borg), Tim Mayotte (against Ivan Lendl) and Jimmy Connors (against Lendl). The 29-year-old Czech has a positive head-to-head record against most players, but Nadal had consistently got the better of him, winning 37 of the last 40 sets they had played.

On this occasion, however, the Spaniard was clearly well below his physical best. He had warned before the tournament that he should not be regarded as one of the favourites given his lack of matches in recent months following a wrist injury and appendicitis. He has had continuing problems with his back and today he also appeared to have trouble with his right hamstring.

For much of the match the world No 3 did not even attempt to chase shots played wide to his forehand. He kept missing what should have been routine ground strokes and did not win a point on his second serve until midway through the third set.

Nadal, nevertheless, refused to blame his defeat on any physical difficulties. He did not deny that he had taken a pill during the match but declined to explain what his problem had been. “Nothing happened,” he said. “I am feeling well. That’s part of the things that sometimes happen during matches, but there’s nothing important to talk about.”

He added: “It was just not my day. I didn't play with the right intensity, the right rhythm. It was a day when the opponent played better than me. I made him play very easy.”

open image in gallery

Berdych is through to the semi-finals of the season’s opening Grand Slam tournament for the second year in a row. He will next play the winner of tonight’s meeting between Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios. Berdych is coached by Dani Vallverdu, who was a key member of Murray’s coaching entourage until he left the Scot’s camp last month.

The Czech, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, broke to lead 3-1 when Nadal netted a limp forehand and immediately took control of the match. He became the first player to win a set 6-0 against Nadal in a Grand Slam tournament since the Spaniard’s defeat to Roger Federer in the 2006 Wimbledon final.

Nadal’s physical condition appeared to improve in the third set, but for the most part it was still Berdych who set the pace. The Czech, who served intelligently and struck the ball cleanly throughout, won the tie-break 7-5 on his fourth match point as Nadal netted a return.

open image in gallery

“I started pretty well, but you're playing Rafa and you have to keep going to the last point,” Berdych said afterwards. “We set up the great plan for today's game and it worked. I’m just putting myself in the best possible position right now, really trying to go one by one.”

Berdych might have been tempted to repeat the celebrated comment by Gerulaitis after the American finally beat Borg – albeit in an exhibition match - having previously lost to him 17 times in a row. Asked how he had finally beaten the Swede, Gerulaitis replied: “Because nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 18 times in a row.”