Federer hammers Berdych to reach first Bercy final

Nov 12, 2011, 14:45 GMT

Paris - Roger Federer willed in a gap in his tennis record as he defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-3 on Saturday to reach his first career final at the Paris Masters.

The day fell into place as the Swiss finally reached the title match of the only current Masters 1000 event where he has failed to do so.

His breakthrough came on his ninth appearance at the Bercy arena and followed a semi-final last year in which he lost to Gael Monfils after holding five match points.

Federer improved to 10-4 over Berdych, who had the recent edge with wins in three of their past four meetings, including their only 2011 match, the Cincinnati quarters.

Federer will face off against either Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or American John Isner in Sunday's final which is played a week before the start of the eight-man year-end event in London.

The Swiss stands 58-12 on the season after winning his second trophy of 2011 last weekend at his home event in Basle.

Federer broke Berdych twice in the 49-minute opening set and got off to a fast start in the second as he broke in the opening game on his way to the sweep.

Berdych fired 10 aces, which did little to stop the Federer juggernaut in 80 minutes with the winner never facing a break point.

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