Novak Djokovic coasts past Tomas Berdych to reach last four

"I played my best game today," said the Serbian world number one. "I'm very happy."

In 26 matches between the pair Djokovic has won 24 times and lost only twice to the Czech world number eight, the last of those defeats coming at the last eight of the Rome Masters three years ago and the other in a Wimbledon semi-final in 2010.

The match lasted just over two hours with Berdych airing his frustration with Djokovic after his opponent controversially walked off midway through the third set when the rain started tumbling with the score level at 3-3.

Despite being booed by the smallish crowd on Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic, who was at his brilliant best in the first set, did not take overly long in wrapping matters up when the pair returned as he snared the next three games to put Berdych out of his misery.

Djokovic had been earlier fortunate to avoid being disqualified when he lost his temper in the second game of the third set after missing the chance to break back trailing 1-0.

He threw his racket threw to the ground, but it slipped from his grasp and narrowly avoided colliding with a line judge behind him, who did well to avoid the racquet.

If he had connected with the official, he could have been thrown out of the tournament.

As it is, Djokovic is playing some of his best tennis and will next meet Dominic Thiem on Friday for a place in Sunday's final.