Tennis: Djokovic seeking grand slam revenge

Smarting Serb Novak Djokovic will be seeking more than a berth in the Australian Open semifinals when he takes on Czech powerhouse Tomas Berdych today.

Peeved at being fined for coaching during his fourth-round trouncing of Nicolas Almagro, Djokovic is also eyeing some grand slam revenge after Berdych denied the 2008 Open champion a place in last year's Wimbledon final.

Berdych upset Djokovic 6-3 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 at the All England Club for his only victory over the world No 3 in five career meetings.

Wary of the challenges to come, Djokovic said he was intent on turning up the heat against Almagro - and he did just that, breezing past the Spaniard in less than two hours.

"Berdych loves playing on hard courts, big hitter. The match against Almagro was good," Djokovic said. "It's important to raise a level of performance before the quarter-finals.

"The matches are going to become more and more difficult, the opponents are higher ranked and the matches are tough and unpredictable.

"But game-wise, I'm happy. I'm feeling good energy-wise. I didn't spend that much time on the court in the opening week. I look forward to the next challenge."

Even if he's not quite looking forward to coughing up US$1500 ($2000) for apparently receiving courtside advice from coach Marian Vajda.

"I don't think it was the right call because I missed a forehand and then I turn to my coach," the third seed said. "You always make as a player eye contact with your team. I didn't do anything and I didn't ask for the advice. That's my point.

"Next time if he does that, give me a warning and I respect that fully."

Berdych, who like Djokovic has dropped just one set en route to the last eight, said he would draw on his Wimbledon experience - rather than dwell on his two subsequent losses to the Serb - when he makes his quarter-final debut at Melbourne Park.

"I just have to try to forget the last two meetings that we did together and try to think about the match we played in London," the sixth seed said.

"But the important thing is going to be what I'm going to do on court and trying to concentrate on the game I am playing.

"Continue with my aggression game. That's going to be the way to prepare."

The reward for for the winner is a likely semifinal showdown on Thursday with defending champion Roger Federer, or possibly the Swiss superstar's countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.

No 2-ranked Vera Zvonareva continued her roll toward a third consecutive Grand Slam final with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Iveta Benesova.

Zvonareva, who lost the Wimbledon final to Serena Williams and the US Open final to Kim Clijsters last year, moved into a quarter-final match against No 25 Petra Kvitova, who rallied to beat No 22 Flavia Pennetta 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Zvonareva said she pays no heed to the doubters who say she'll never win a major title.

"There are a lot of people that always underestimated me and ... and there are a lot of people that thought I never will make it to even like Grand Slam semifinals or something," she said. "But it doesn't really matter to me ... the most important thing is that I believe in myself."

- AAP