Berdych given stern test by Anderson

15:25, 01 Jun 2012

Seventh seed Tomas Berdych survived a five-set examination against South Africa's Kevin Anderson to reach the fourth round of the French Open.

The Czech had lost all four of his previous five-set matches at Roland Garros but fought back from two sets to one down to triumph 6-3 4-6 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 6-4.

Both players received treatment to their thighs in the last set but it was Berdych, a possible quarter-final opponent for Roger Federer, who secured the only break in the seventh game when Anderson served a double fault.

Meanwhile, 20th seed Marcel Granollers saved three match points before finally seeing off Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 7-6 (7/1) 3-6 6-1 3-6 7-5 in a second-round clash held over from last night.

It was the third meeting between Berdych and Anderson this year after they also clashed at the same stage of the Australian Open and in Madrid, with the Czech winning both in straight sets.

But Berdych was not surprised to be pushed hard by the 26-year-old, saying: "In Madrid he was the toughest opponent until I got to the semis.

"Today I was expecting a really, really tough one because he's coming up. He's playing well. It was a really, really close game today."

Meanwhile, Berdych also revealed he would like to work with Andy Murray's coach, Ivan Lendl, in the future.

The former Wimbledon finalist said of Lendl, a Czech by birth: "It would be an honour. But it's not only just for me to say if I want him or not. But definitely if we could be together then, of course, it could be nice."

Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had a more straightforward passage into the last eight, the Frenchman seeing off flamboyant Italian Fabio Fognini 7-5 6-4 6-4.