Match report

David Ferrer © Tennistalk.com
Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana
Quarter final
4/18/08 1 2 3 Tot
es  David Ferrer 6 1 7 2
es  Fernando Verdasco 3 6 5 1
Fernando Verdasco © Tennistalk.com

  • Houdini Ferrer fights on

    4/19/08 1:52 AM | David Cox
    This has been the tournament for comebacks so far. Robin Haase and Evgeny Korolev saved match points in the last round, now David Ferrer joined in the party at the last 8 stage saving two match points against Fernando Verdasco to earn his first win over his compatriot since 2005

    Ferrer was in control of the first set, taking an early 4-2 lead. Some careless shots gave the break back but the top seed re-established his advantage immediately and had few problems serving the set out at 5-3

    Whenever Verdasco is playing, nothing is certain, matches can turn on their heads in a matter of minutes. The Spaniard is arguably one of the most naturally talented players in world tennis and when he’s on, he can be nigh unstoppable. Ferrer maintained his level into set 2 yet in around 30 minutes of brilliant ball-striking he was simply wiped off the court 6-1. Verdasco let rip into the Ferrer serve with a vengeance, the top seed won just 4 points on it in the entire set. Ferrer’s only game came through a break, he could have had more but took only 1 / 4 break points

    The pattern seemed set to continue into the 3rd. Verdasco began as he’d left off, getting the early break and Ferrer’s semi-final hopes were fading fast. Despite having little answers to Verdasco’s power, the world no 5 somehow managed to keep him within range - avoiding going 2 breaks down but at 3-5 Ferrer found himself on the brink. He saved 1 match point and then Verdasco had another when trying to serve it out in the next game. He couldn’t find that killer shot though and Ferrer broke back to level at 5-5. It proved to be a decisive psychological blow, Verdasco wasn’t the same player while the adrenaline surge of the comeback saw Ferrer through the next couple of games to take it 6-3, 1-6, 7-5

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