Federer Never Let Thoughts Of Defeat Creep In

`I knew Tomas was dangerous, and if I played even still a great set or three great sets it`s probably not going to happen.`, said Federer.

The thought of losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open had never entered Roger Federer's mind, despite being down two sets to love and facing a rampant Tomas Berdych on Sunday.

World number two Federer eventually fought back to seal a dramatic 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-4 6-2 victory against his Czech opponent, retaining his hopes of winning a 14th grand slam title.

The former world number one, who has come back from two sets down three times previously, has not been knocked out of a grand slam before the semi-finals since he lost to Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten in the third round at Roland Garros in 2004.

"I wasn't thinking of losing, that's for sure," Federer told reporters of his thoughts after Berdych had taken the two-set lead. "The finish line was still very far for Tomas. I knew that.

"You can still concentrate on playing just the points instead of thinking, 'Oh, my God, what's going to happen?' I didn't feel that way.

"I kind of felt after a terrible first set from my side that if I probably want to win this it's going to go to five sets. I just felt it.

"I knew Tomas was dangerous, and if I played even still a great set or three great sets it's probably not going to happen.

"He would squeeze one great set in there somewhere, second, third, or fourth.

"That's why I kind of was prepared for five from the start. I think that's what made me be so determined towards the end.

"I believed in it all the way, and I think that was key in the end."

BAD START

Federer admitted he had got off to a slow start, but Berdych had also played extremely well for the first two sets and not allowed him to get into any rhythm.

"I was feeling fine. I just had a bad start.

"Once you start running behind against a player who can take such huge cuts at the ball, he was only getting more and more confident and that made that really, really difficult for me to find rhythm.

"Yeah, it was tough for me today. I found a way. I'm very happy about my performance in the end."

Berdych, who has not beaten Federer since the 2004 Olympics in Athens -- a streak now running to eight games -- also admitted he was not close to winning despite taking the early lead.

"I wouldn't say I was so close," the Czech said. "I won two sets and then I was three-all (in the third).

"Even if you have a match point you're closer, but not close enough to beat him.

"When the last ball is finished, the referee calls the score, then it's finished. I was quite far from this situation."

While disappointed to lose, Berdych had some advice for Federer's future opponents, starting with Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals.

"I think to beat him, especially on the grand slam, is to win in three sets.

"If you leave him to win one, two sets, then he's going to be stronger and stronger.

"That's just happened today. I wanted to finish in the third set, but unfortunately it doesn't work well."