Tomas Berdych has been nearly perfect through four rounds at the Australian Open, reaching the quarterfinals for an eighth straight time, second in a row without losing a set.

But after the big win over Bernard Tomic, Berdych sets a date with his nemesis Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard has beaten Berdych 18 of 21 times including 17 straight.

“Well, I’m feeling very good,” said Berdych. “It’s been a great, great run so far. But, yeah, I just put myself in the best possible position right now. I’m just really looking forward to it. I’m going to have to, you know, add something extra again. I mean, that’s how the tournament is developing, just move forward, just be ready for it. You know, I’m feeling strong both like physically, mentally. Just looking forward to the match.

“There is no question that he’s one of the best of our sport, all our era of sport. That’s not question about it.”

The Czech comes into this meeting with an Andy Murray team member, Dani Valverdu.

“So far, as I said in the past, we didn’t spend that much time together,” Berdych said. “But the good thing is that I’m able to, you know, execute the things that he’s telling me what to do, how to set up for the matches. So far it works pretty well. I think it’s definitely the advantage which I was surely looking for.

“he knows how to put up the plan before the match and how to prepare the player. Yeah, that’s the positive what I was looking for and what I needed.”

Berdych, though, has looked exceptionally in form before only to disappoint.