Czech Tomas Berdych snapped a run of 11 consecutive defeats by world number one Novak Djokovic to reach the semi-finals of the Rome Masters before Rafa Nadal was stretched to the limit against David Ferrer on Friday.

He lost 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Berdych, who will play Nadal in a semifinal match.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic wasted a chance to serve out the match and was beaten by sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the Italian Open quarterfinals in Rome.    

ROME, May 17 (UPI) -- Tomas Berdych ended a 12-match losing streak to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic with a three-set win Friday in the quarterfinals of the Italian Masters in Rome.

Novak Djokovic says the French Open is his biggest target this year but the world No 1 will go to Roland Garros next week having made early exits from his last two build-up tournaments on clay.