Ferrer had lost nine straight times to Nadal, including in this year’s French Open final, and hadn’t beaten his fellow Spaniard in almost three years.
PARIS—David Ferrer stunned top-seeded Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5 and Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer from a set and break down in the Paris Masters semifinals on Saturday.
Ferrer had lost nine
straight times to Nadal, including in this year’s French Open final, and
hadn’t beaten his fellow Spaniard in almost three years. But this time
the defending champion hit 29 winners to 19 and won 14 of 18 net points.
“I played maybe my best match this season,” Ferrer said, “very aggressive with my forehand and with my shots.”
Ferrer broke for 3-1
and went a set up with a low forehand volley. He capitalized on a wide
forehand from Nadal to lead 2-1 in the second set.
Ferrer saved five
break points in that set but failed to serve out the match at 5-4,
allowing Nadal to break back. Nadal gave Ferrer another chance as he hit
a forehand long to drop serve. Ferrer went on to seal the victory with a
forehand winner.
“I was slow,”
Nadal said. “Always I was a little bit late on the ball. So against a
player like David, he’s quick and he plays inside the court, and he puts
pressure on you all the time, you are dead, no?”
Nadal’s best result at
the Paris Masters was runner-up in 2007. He still leads 20-5 against
Ferrer but acknowledged his successful year is taking its toll on him.
“At the end of the
season, a lot of times the body, the mind, and the tennis are tougher
for me,” Nadal said. “I arrived a bit more tired, and the condition of
these courts didn’t help me a lot.”
Nadal unseated
Djokovic atop the rankings by reaching the final of the China Open last
month. He looks to finish the season as No. 1 for the first time since
2010.
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