Tomas Berdych staged a fightback to deny Andy Murray a third semi-final in four years at the Monte Carlo Masters, with the Czech squeezing out a tight 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 6-3 win on Friday to reach the final four. Murray could only be frustrated with himself after a performance in which Berdych managed 16 break point chances and converted on five.
Murray had one opportunity on the Czech's serve but was unable to take advantage. "There are a lot of things I would have liked to have done better, it takes a lot of time for me to do it (well) on this surface," said Murray. "It doesn't come straightaway. "It takes time for me to understand the way I'm needing to play.
"At some points today I did well; some points I didn't do so well. It's going to take me a few weeks. Today is a good match to learn from because I was playing a top player who played very, very well." Berdych girded for a battle on the clay under sunny skies after losing the 74-minute opening set in a tiebreaker. The former Wimbledon finalist took his chances and profited from a Murray miscue in a struggle lasting for just over two and three-quarter hours.
"I had to stay in the fight after the first set," said the winner. "I had some bad luck in the tie-breaker, but my game started getting stronger. "I hope to keep playing my best tennis on clay," said the Monte Carlo semi-finalist from 2007 who now leads Murray 4-2 in their career series. The big Czech stands 2-0 over the Scot on clay after a 2010 fourth-round win at Roland Garros. Murray looked like fighting through after the marathon opening set, where he saved a total of seven break points - four of which were set points. But after salting away the opener, he let his game drop.
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