Tennis: Berdych books Miami semi-final berth

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic plays a backhand against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine during their quarter-final match on day 11 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Centre on March 27, 2014, in Key Biscayne, Florida. -- PHOTO: AFP
Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic plays a backhand against Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine during their quarter-final match on day 11 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Centre on March 27, 2014, in Key Biscayne, Florida. -- PHOTO: AFP

MIAMI (AFP) - Seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych secured his semi-final berth at the Miami ATP Masters on Thursday with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

In Friday's semi-finals, Berdych will face either world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain or Canadian Milos Raonic, who were due to play later on Thursday.

Thanks to his quarter-final victory, Berdych is projected to rise from his current seventh in the world to number five next week.

The Czech already has one title to his credit in 2014, at Rotterdam, and a runner-up finish in Dubai where he fell to Swiss great Roger Federer in the final.

Berdych is seeking a second trip to the final at Miami, where he lost to Andy Roddick in the title match in 2010.

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