Nadal breezes into semis as Berdych is blown away

This time, as he tackled the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych, he was confronted with conditions more suited to sand yachting than tennis.

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The wind gusted and there was even some sunshine but the Spaniard would not be blown off course from his scheduled meeting with Roger Federer tomorrow.

He emerged a 7-6, 6-4, 6-3 victor in a very satisfactory 128 minutes. It was even more satisfactory when you compare it to the hard grind experienced by his semi-final opponent Novak Djokovic.

Strangely, after being the final man into the last 16, Nadalwas the first into the last four.

The wind caused more problems in the serve to 6ft 5in Berdych, who struggled to get down to the erratic bounce caused by the gusts.

But Nadal was still relieved to come through against a player who was something of a sleeper in the bottom half of the draw.

"I was very pleased because it was difficult to play good tennis," Nadal said. "The wind affected him and I tried to be very concentrated all the time with a positive attitude."

Regardless of that, the second seed will be pleased when the roof is restored next year.

"There is more wind and maybe the Centre Court has more character with the old roof, no? That's like the cathedral of tennis. In my opinion last year it was the best centre court in the world but not this year."

Berdych arrived in London after winning the ATP event in Halle played on grass, which usually serves as Federer's warm-up.

He is in a group of young players emerging to challenge Federer and Nadal and can boast victories over the Wimbledon and French Open champions.

But in this match Berdych lost his serve at the beginning of all three sets and could break back only in the first as Nadal struggled.

His big opportunity was in the tie-break but Nadal showed his champion's temperament by hitting two aces with his first two serves to help take it 7-1.

Ten years ago there was barely anyone who played from the back court in the men's singles beyond the last 16.

Nadal is proof of how heavier balls, racket and string technology and the pace of the court have changed all that.

This weekend he will attempt to become the first out-and-out base-liner to win here since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.