Tennis: Berdych books semi-final place in Miami

Seventh-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych secured his semi-final berth at the Miami ATP Masters 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 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.