The seventh-seeded Berdych fully controlled the first two sets in the
6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5) win, handing Nadal his first set sweep since 2006 at
Wimbledon and only the third at a Grand Slam in his career.
"I was ready for everything and I think that was the difference," Berdych said. "I started pretty well, but when you're playing Rafa you have to keep going to the last point."
Nadal hadn't lost a 6-0 set at any tournament since 2011. He failed to convert any of his four break-point chances.
"It is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive," Nadal said. "As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, comebacks are difficult. But without being at my top level of tennis, I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me."
Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam singles champion, said before the tournament began that his lack of match fitness due to injuries and illness in the last half of 2014 made him unlikely to win more than a few rounds at Melbourne Park.
Coming into the Australian Open, Nadal had played only eight matches since last June because of a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.
Berdych showed little emotion throughout the match, maintaining a familiar focus. He said he planned to continue to play in that style.
Berdych will next meet Andy Murray, who ensured there would be no five-set comeback for local hope Nick Kyrgios as he beat the 19-year-old Australian 6-3 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Kyrgios came back from two sets down and saved a match point in the fourth round Sunday before beating Italian Andreas Seppi, the player who had eliminated Roger Federer.
But on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena, the excitable Kyrgios, who walked onto the court with his headphones on and gave two thumbs-up to the crowd, was undone by the sixth-seeded Murray's steady all-court game and his own string of unforced errors, silencing the parochial crowd.
"It was a tricky match," Murray said. "I tried to start as quick as possible because I know how dangerous Nick is. He's a huge hitter of the ball, so I tried to keep it out of his strike zone as much as possible. Thankfully it worked."
Murray didn't face his first break point until the seventh game of the final set.
The other men's semifinalists will be determined Wednesday when top-seeded Novak Djokovic plays Milos Raonic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka takes on U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori in quarterfinals in the other half of the draw.
"I was ready for everything and I think that was the difference," Berdych said. "I started pretty well, but when you're playing Rafa you have to keep going to the last point."
Nadal hadn't lost a 6-0 set at any tournament since 2011. He failed to convert any of his four break-point chances.
"It is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive," Nadal said. "As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, comebacks are difficult. But without being at my top level of tennis, I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me."
Nadal, a 14-time Grand Slam singles champion, said before the tournament began that his lack of match fitness due to injuries and illness in the last half of 2014 made him unlikely to win more than a few rounds at Melbourne Park.
Coming into the Australian Open, Nadal had played only eight matches since last June because of a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.
Berdych showed little emotion throughout the match, maintaining a familiar focus. He said he planned to continue to play in that style.
"If this keeps me going through, I'm going to keep doing the same," Berdych said.
Nadal saved two match points in the 12th game of the final set, sending it to a tiebreaker. Berdych led 5-2 and finally ended the match on his fourth match point when Nadal netted a return of serve.Berdych will next meet Andy Murray, who ensured there would be no five-set comeback for local hope Nick Kyrgios as he beat the 19-year-old Australian 6-3 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Kyrgios came back from two sets down and saved a match point in the fourth round Sunday before beating Italian Andreas Seppi, the player who had eliminated Roger Federer.
But on Tuesday at Rod Laver Arena, the excitable Kyrgios, who walked onto the court with his headphones on and gave two thumbs-up to the crowd, was undone by the sixth-seeded Murray's steady all-court game and his own string of unforced errors, silencing the parochial crowd.
"It was a tricky match," Murray said. "I tried to start as quick as possible because I know how dangerous Nick is. He's a huge hitter of the ball, so I tried to keep it out of his strike zone as much as possible. Thankfully it worked."
Murray didn't face his first break point until the seventh game of the final set.
The other men's semifinalists will be determined Wednesday when top-seeded Novak Djokovic plays Milos Raonic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka takes on U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori in quarterfinals in the other half of the draw.
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