Match report

David Ferrer © Tennistalk.com
ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo
Quarter final
4/25/08 1 2 Tot
es  David Ferrer 1 5 0
es  Rafael Nadal 6 7 2
Rafael Nadal © Tennistalk.com

  • Rafael Nadal fights his way back to win in two

    4/26/08 9:24 AM | Cheryl Murray
    David Ferrer is no easy opponent on clay - just ask Rafael Nadal. The last time they played on clay was in their home country in Barcelona last year, with a nearly identical scoreline of 7-5, 6-1. Ferrer has a lethal forehand which he unleashed on Nadal for a good portion of the second set to great effect.

    The first set was what one would expect from a match against Nadal on clay. Ferrer hit an embarrassing number of errors, and Nadal quite happily permitted him to do so. The only game Ferrer held was at 2-0; and even then Nadal had two break points. Before Ferrer could wonder what was happening, the set was over.

    Nadal served to open the second set, and to the surprise of many, Ferrer broke on his first opportunity with a massive forehand. In Nadal's second service game at 0-2, Ferrer did the same thing. He battered Nadal with two incredible forehands and on break point, Nadal double faulted. He was visibly quite rattled. The difficult part, however, about playing the man they call “Rafa” is that he does not give up. Ferrer had two points to hold in the 3-0 game, but some excellent forehands from Nadal's racket, and finally an error from Ferrer gave Rafa one break back.

    Ferrer had the opportunity to serve for the set at 5-4, and got to 40-0, when he donated a double fault. On his second set point at 40-15, he attempted a drop shot. It was not a bad shot, but Nadal got there with enough time to lob over Ferrer's head, drawing an error. Two more errors from Ferrer set up a break point for Nadal, which he converted when Ferrer missed a difficult volley at net.

    If that were not enough excitement, Nadal was down two break points in his next service game, but clawed his way back to deuce. On the first deuce point, Nadal was on the defensive most of the point. He threw up a defensive lob, but Ferrer was there and ready to hit an overhead smash. He hit it wildly and the ball landed out by several meters. On the third game point, Nadal final held for 6-5. Nadal broke Ferrer's serve again to take the second set 7-5, and win the match. He will play Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals.

  • Thumbs up

    The second set of this match is why people love tennis. It had everything - excellent shots, great fight and a surprising outcome.

  • Thumbs down

    Ferrer missed too many opportunities to send the match to a third set.

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