Down 2 Sets, Federer Survives Vs. Berdych

By The Associated Press
Published: January 26, 2009

MELBOURNE, Australia --

Two sets down. A 6-foot-5 Tomas Berdych ripping forehand winners and powerful serves down at him, keeping him on the defensive.

Roger Federer's campaign to equal Pete Sampras' record 14 Grand Slam singles titles was in serious jeopardy in the fourth round Sunday at the Australian Open.

Not in his mind.

"I wasn't thinking of losing, that's for sure," second-seeded Federer said after reaching the quarterfinals with a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win. "The finish line was still very far for Tomas. I knew that."

After breaking No. 20 Berdych in the pivotal seventh game of the third set, when the Czech player missed three open volleys and blew five game points, Federer took the momentum.

Federer cut his unforced errors from 13 and 11 in the first two sets to four and three in the next two. He finished with 61 winners to 58 for Berdych.

It was only his fourth career comeback from two sets down and third in a major - the previous in 2001, more than two years before he won the first of his Grand Slam titles.

He next faces No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro, who beat No. 19 Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

In other matches:

•Second-seeded Serena Williams advanced when No. 13 Victoria Azarenka retired while leading 6-3, 2-4.

•Defending champ Novak Djokovic beat 2006 runner-up and unseeded Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (5), 6-2.

•No. 7 Andy Roddick ousted No. 21 Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3.

•No. 3 Dinara Safina stopped No. 15 Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

•No. 7 Vera Zvonareva slipped past No. 10 Nadia Petrova 7-5, 6-4.

•Unseeded Jelena Dokic upset No. 29 Alisa Kleybanova 7-5, 5-7, 8-6.

•No. 6 Gilles Simon beat No. 12 Gael Monfils, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, retired.