Tomas Berdych hails Rafael Nadal performance

Tomas Berdych has said that he failed to make the most of his opportunities in his 6-2 6-4 semi-final defeat to Rafael Nadal at the Rome Masters.

The Spaniard needed just one hour and 17 minutes to record his 13th-straight win over the Czech number one.

"He starts really well and, of course, it's Rafa and we know how he plays on clay," Sky Sports News quotes Berdych as saying.

"It was a good start for him. Yesterday I had one chance that I did take and I won, and today I had one chance that I didn't take and I lost."

Berdych, who defeated Novak Djokovic for his place in the last four, reflected positively on his performance in the Italian capital.

"It has been a good two weeks on clay," he added. "It is important that the results are getting better and better and I am looking for the progress that I am having."

Nadal awaits the winner of the second semi-final between Roger Federer and Benoit Paire.