Nadal's licence to thrill

The world number two was the last player to get past the third round on this wettest of Wimbledons but he became the first to reach the last four after surging to a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-2 win over the seventh-seeded Czech.

After taking five sets to get past each of his two previous opponents, Nadal will be relieved to get the chance to put his feet up ahead of Saturday's semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

"It was very tough out there with the wind but I played very good," he said. "It was difficult to play with the wind but, in the end, I'm very happy with the victory."

Centre Court was less than half-full when the players came out for an 11am start, with Pierce Brosnan casting a lonely figure in the Royal Box, and the late risers missed plenty of action, with six break points in the first three games.

Nadal had to save two break points in his opening game, which spanned nine minutes, and both men then dropped their serve as they struggled to cope with the swirling wind. Berdych had another chance to break in the seventh game but both men grew more confident on their own serve and it was no surprise when it went to a tie-break.

Berdych unsuccessfully challenged an ace in the first point and there was no way back once he conceded two mini-breaks to allow Nadal to roar into a 5-0 lead.

The 21-year-old Czech began to look dispirited as Nadal strengthened his grip on the match. The seventh seed had to fight to hold onto his serve in the ninth game, saving one set point with a driven forehand, but could not prevent his opponent serving out to take the second set 6-4.

The end came in sight for Berdych when he missed a routine volley at the net on break point in the opening game of the third set. Nadal consolidated the break and raced into a 5-1 lead after the flailing Czech dropped his serve for a fourth time.

Berdych then saved one match point with an 11th ace and Nadal squandered a second on his serve but it merely delayed the inevitable.