Sport | Tennis
Ferrer sets up all-Spanish semifinal thriller
Will meet Davis cup teammate Nadal after eliminating an out of sorts davydenko in three-set opener
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 January 1, 2010
- Image Credit: AP
- Ferrer found himself down by two games at 2-4 in both the first and the deciding sets, and after succumbing to the superior serving of Davydenko in the first he managed to pull it off when it mattered most in the decider
Abu Dhabi : Spain's David Ferrer rallied to overcome an ‘out of storts ‘Nikolay Davydenko 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 to set up an all-Spanish semifinal against world number two Rafael Nadal in the Capitala World Tennis Championship.
Later in yesterday's second match world number eight Robin Soderling edged out fellow Swiss star Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6 (4), 7-6(2). Soderling will now take on world number one Roger Federer in today's first semifinal at 3.00 pm.
Ferrer, who was a last-minute replacement for Frenchman Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, said he was hoping yesterday's start would see him win an ATP title in the New Year.
Davydenko, who was also beaten in the first round in the same tournament earlier this year, said he was not feeling fully fit after being hit with a bout of bronchitis.
"Yesterday at this time I was not even sure of playing, but I took an injection which made me feel better," said said the world number seven.
"I know I had a chance at 4-2 in the decider but after I lost that next game I just knew I could not fight it out anymore."
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Davydenko said the change in climate from a hot Thailand to a much colder UAE had caused the damage.
"I just hope that I recover fully for my opening game in the Qatar Open," said the Russian, who served well and had Ferrer, Spain's Davis Cup hero, in a spot of bother on several occasions.
Ferrer found himself down 2-4 in both the first and third sets, but after succumbing to the superior serving of Davydenko in the first he managed to raise his game in the next two sets.
Davydenko broke Ferrer in the fifth game and again in the seventh game, his serve doing the trick against the Spaniard, who stuck to the baseline and did most of the running. Ferrer, ranked 17th in the world, came back strongly in the second set and after breaking the Russian's serve in the fourth game, finished strongly to take the set.
Davydenko raced to a 4-2 lead but in the seventh game, with Ferrer leading 40-15, he challenged a line call and won it. Davydenko fought back further to take the game to deuce but, as he later revealed, his fitness was being tested. Two unforced errors and Ferrer was back 3-4.
Soon Davydenko's game just crumbled while Ferrer went on to start the new season with a win.
"When I was down 2-4 in the first set I made a few mistakes when I had a good chance to break back. However in the deciding game I tightened my play and that helped," said Ferrer, adding it was good to scalp a top ten player.
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