TENNIS

Berdych upsets Murray to make Monte Carlo semis 

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  1 of 5. Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic reacts after defeating Andy Murray of Britain during the quarter-final of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco April 20, 2012.

MONTE CARLO | Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:04am EDT

Czech Tomas Berdych overpowered world number four Andy Murray in their Monte Carlo Masters quarter-final on Friday to reach the last four for the second time in the season's first big claycourt event.Berdych, the sixth seed, made the Briton dizzy as he relied on his powerful forehand to prevail 6-7 6-2 6-3 in two hours and 48 minutes.
The Czech, who already reached the semi-final of the Mediterranean glamour tournament in 2007, will face either world number one Novak Djokovic or Dutchman Robin Haase in the next round.
On a chilly morning, Murray had the luck to grab the opening set as Berdych wasted four set-point chances in the 12th game before faltering in the tie-break.
As the sun eventually shone and the sea glittered, the world number seven tightened his grip and hit numerous winners to unsettle a frustrated Murray, who now has a 2-4 win-loss record against Berdych.
"He played extremely well today. He dictated a lot of the points. He went for his shots. He served very well, I think, too," Murray told reporters.
The Scot - who spent most of the match far behind his baseline - struggled with his footwork and made unusual errors, including a backhand smash which went wide to grant Berdych a decisive break in the third set's third game.
"There are a lot of things I would have liked to have done better," added Murray, who was playing his first clay event this season.
"It takes a lot of time for me to do it on this surface. It doesn't come straightaway. It takes time for me to understand the way I'm needing to play."