Will dangerous Tomas Berdych stop the rot and deny Roger Federer a 20th Grand Slam title?

Following Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s injury-hit Australian Open exits, Federer is the only former Australian Open winner left in the draw and is on course for a remarkable 20th Grand Slam title.

He’s just three wins away from a record-equalling sixth crown at Melbourne Park, and if it was hard enough seeing him being stopped before the tournament, it looks even tougher now.

However, if anyone is going to get the job done of the remaining players in the draw, Tomas Berdych seems like a good bet.

The experienced world No. 2 is no stranger to this stage of a Grand Slam and will view this as arguably his best chance to get his hands on a maiden major title.

Here we take a look at Wednesday’s last-eight clash and offer a prediction as to who will come out on top.

How have they reached this stage?

Berdych has had, arguably, the most impressive run of any player to this stage.

He negotiated a tough first-round match against in-form Aussie youngster Alex De Minaur and has since been in terrific form.

A straight sets win over Juan Martin del Potro – who beat Federer at the US Open last year – was a highlight, while following it up with a win in three over Fabio Fognini gives an indication what sort of level he’s playing at.

The Swiss is the only player left in the tournament who hasn’t dropped a set, but it’s been a relatively straightforward run for the 36-year-old.

Richard Gasquet was the only seeded player he’d faced, though Jan-Lennard Struff and Marton Fucsovics gave him the sternest examinations thus far.

What’s their record like in Melbourne?

Berdych is a two-time Australian Open semi-finalist and the former world No. 4 will compete in his seventh final on Wednesday.

Since 2011, he’s only been beaten by Federer, Djokovic, Andy Murray, Wawrinka and Nadal – all of whom are multiple Slam champions.

Federer, meanwhile, has five titles to his name and he is chasing a joint-record sixth crown Down Under.

Only Djokovic and Roy Emerson have won in Melbourne more than the 19-time Grand Slam winner, who ended a seven-year wait for the title last year.

What’s their head-to-head like?

For a third year in a row, the pair will clash at the Australian Open, in a match-up that has become one of the most played at Grand Slam level in Open Era history.

This will be their 10th clash at a major, with the pair clashing at every single Grand Slam event at least once.

They will battle it out at Melbourne Park for a fifth time, with Federer coming out on top on the previous four occasions.

Berdych can take a shred of comfort from the fact he holds a winning record over Federer at the quarter-final stage of Grand Slams, however, he has not secured a victory against the world No. 2 since 2013.

Federer is on an eight-match winning streak against the Czech, dropping just two sets in that time.

Though he lost, Berdych did provide the stiffest opposition to Federer at Wimbledon in 2017 – forcing him to two tiebreak sets – and he has form of upsets, beating all members of the ‘Big Four’ on the biggest stages during his career.

Who’s the favourite?

Both men will be looking to capitalise on what’s become a very open draw, being easily the most experienced players in their half.

Unsurprisingly, Federer is expected to be the man to lift the title come the end of the fortnight, and Berdych is given little hope of stopping him.

The Czech is, in fact, rated as the second-least likely player to win the title from this position at 17/1, though those odds will come crashing down if he comes through this one.

What have they said?

Berdych: ‘If there is any plan or any key to success, then I would like to know that.

‘I’m definitely going to go out there, try my best, try to play good tennis, and believe myself that I can do it. I did it in the past, and also, I did it on the slams, so I know how it is to beat him for the best-of-five sets.

‘But obviously it’s extremely tough opponent, and, yeah, just to go out there and swing some balls.’

Federer: ‘Well, against Tomas sometimes in the past when I did play well things went my way, you know. Same for him when he beat me on those occasions, he also played extremely well.

‘We have had some good ones over the years going back all the way to the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.

‘Yeah, I’m looking forward to play against him. He seems in good shape, and I’m happy he’s over his back issues that he also had at the end of last year. That’s a good thing.’

Prediction?

Berdych is an experienced campaigner who will not be fazed by competing at this stage in a major and he’s really enjoying his tennis.

Federer, while largely serving brilliantly, has, at times, seemed to be going through the motions some what and he has the potential to be caught cold if he’s not at his best.

Having said that, the defending champion is playing at such a high level and seems to have a firm hold on the former Wimbledon runner-up.

Every set should be tight but Federer has largely displayed a habit of stepping up his game when he needs to in recent times and should get the job done in three or four.

Prediction: Federer in four