Tomas Berdych sweeps Rafael Nadal out of Australian Open

Two rounds after Roger Federer's unexpected exit from the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal has joined him on the sidelines.

Nadal's lack of match fitness from nearly six months of injuries and illness finally caught up with the 14-time major champion in his quarterfinal match against seventh-seeded Tomas Berdych on Tuesday. He was never much of a factor and lost in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0, 7-6 (5).

The third-seeded Nadal said before the tournament that his inactivity over the last half of 2014 made him unlikely to win more than a few rounds. Coming into the Australian Open, Nadal had played only eight matches since last June because of a right wrist injury and appendix surgery in November.

Federer, who has 17 major titles, including four in Australia, departed Melbourne Park after an upset third-round loss to Andrea Seppi.

Nadal said he was surprised to have advanced as far as he did in Melbourne.

"It is obvious that I needed something more to be more competitive," Nadal said. "As I said when I arrived here, the process always is not easy. When you have injuries, comebacks are difficult. But without being at my top level of tennis, I was able to be here in quarterfinals. Is not a bad result at all for me."

Nadal saved two match points in the 12th game of the final set, sending it to a tiebreaker. But Berdych raced out to a 5-2 lead in the decider and finally ended the match on his fourth match point when Nadal netted a return of serve.

"I was ready for everything and I think that was the difference," Berdych said. "I started pretty well, but when you're playing Rafa you have to keep going to the last point."

Berdych, who had lost 17 straight matches to Nadal before Tuesday, will play the winner of the night quarterfinal between Andy Murray and local hope Nick Kyrgios. The other men's semifinalists will be determined on Wednesday when top-seeded Novak Djokovic plays Milos Raonic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka takes on U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori in quarterfinals in the other half of the draw.