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12/19/11 3:04 AM | Ricky Dimon
Tennistalk continues its countdown of the best matches of the year with numbers four and five. Part 3 features grueling five-setters in Davis Cup and at the Australian Open.
5) Davis Cup final: David Ferrer d. Juan Martin Del Potro 6-2, 6-7(2), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
The second rubber of the 2011 Davis Cup final may have been overshadowed by the gut-wrenching, tie-ending match two days later between Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin Del Potro, but David Ferrer vs. Del Potro may have been even better. It went the distance, had Spanish and Argentine fans in simultaneous delirium, and featured rallies that probably had to be seen more than once in order to be believed.
Ferrer had been in stellar form all season long and went in as a considerable favorite at home and on clay. The world No. 5 handled his opponent with ease in set one, but Del Potro caught fired and powered his way through sets two and three. In the end, though, the big-hitting Argentine could not go the required five hours with a tenacious Ferrer, instead giving out after four hours and 43 minutes of brilliant tennis. Del Potro fought till the end and earned one break back in the fifth set at 1-5, but Ferrer finally clinched it on serve at 5-3 with a perfect forehand winner on match point.
"It's maybe the best match of my career," Ferrer said. "I played unbelievable. I am very happy because (Del Potro) played a very good match. I expected a tough match but maybe not that tough. I was nearly perfect. If not, I wouldn’t have won."
4) Australian Open first round: David Nalbandian d. Lleyton Hewitt 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1), 9-7
Lleyton Hewitt is no stranger to epics at the Australian Open, where he finished runner-up in 2005. In 2008, he outlasted Marcos Baghdatis in a five-setter that ended at 4:34 in the morning. This one did not go until 4:34 A.M., but it did last four hours and 48 minutes. Hewitt twice led David Nalbandian by a set, but the veteran Aussie could not quite treat his fans to a push past the finish line.
It was more about what Nalbandian did than what Hewitt did not do. Nalbandian, who lost to Hewitt in a Wimbledon final way back in 2002 and in a five-setter in the quarterfinals of the 2005 Australian Open, stormed back from a 1-3, 0-40 deficit in the fourth set and faced two match points serving at 6-7 in the fifth. The Argentine saved one with an incredible short-volley off a perfect return by Hewitt and he thwarted the second with a forehand volley winner. From there it was all Nalbandian, who had too much for his opponent at the end of a high-quality, dramatic first-round battle.
"It was the kind of match that nobody can forget," said Nalbandian. "I think we played very intense tennis today. We both fought until the very end. He played unbelievable. It's amazing playing with him in a full stadium, here in Australia. Cramping was around all the time. I played the two match points incredible; serve and volley, it was amazing."
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LOVED that Nalbandian-Hewitt match. Good stuff.
cherylmurray , 12/19/11 2:28 PM
Great picks, Ricky!
Happy to see Ferrer getting the respect he deserves. He was Spain's DC workhorse this year and he performed valiantly and brilliantly at all four ties.
And yes, the Nalby - Hewitt match was wonderful, so great to see two beat up old pros going at it like that.
Ramara , 12/19/11 10:27 PM
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Ferrer vs. Del Potro highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfKDorh61HU
Nalbandian vs. Hewitt highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0Yz_OnW04&feature=related
RickyDimon , 12/19/11 3:10 AM