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David Ferrer stumbles, but finishes on a high note in win over John Isner

Published

8 years ago

06/11/2015

David Ferrer recovered form the loss of the second set to eventually beat Isner

Former champion David Ferrer progressed to a semi-final meeting with Andy Murray, defeating a clearly hindered John Isner 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. Ferrer had looked in control, leading by a set and five-three, but Isner came back to win the second set on a tiebreak before rapidly failing in the third, as a number of health ailments took their toll.

Isner forced the first break points in the match, returning and moving well before Ferrer finally held after a game lasting more than seven minutes. Ferrer then broke in game three, passing Isner after the American had failed to put enough angle or depth into an approach shot.

Isner failed to make inroads in Ferrer’s next service game, but did at least hold to stay in within a single service break of the Spaniard. Isner had to stave off another break point in game seven, as he started to become more erratic with his ground strokes. Isner did hold with a big forehand, but Ferrer was getting enough looks at the serve to get close.

Isner did force deuce again on the Ferrer serve in game seven, but after Ferrer finally held the American capitulated again. Ferrer broke to ensure that he got the opportunity to serve first in the second set.

Ferrer continued to dominate in set two, and earned a break point when a limp Isner backhand found the net. Isner used the serve to typical effect to escape, but then signalled to the chair that he was in discomfort from an apparent shoulder injury.

Isner received treatment at the next change of ends, and both men held their next service games comfortably. Isner was forced to thirty in the next game, and was somewhat lucky to not face a break point, Ferrer missing a passing shot from a good position. Ferrer held comfortably again, with Isner in increasingly visible pain. Game eight saw Isner in trouble again, two standard ground stroke errors gave Ferrer love-thirty. Isner got back, but finally succumbed with another poor error.

Isner fought hard to regain the break, saving two match points on the Ferrer serve to reach deuce. A rattled Ferrer double-faulted to hand the American a break point. Isner broke. A big cross-court forehand opened up the court, and with Ferrer committed, Isner went behind him to return to an on serve scenario.

Both men held until the tiebreak, and a rejuvenated Isner secured the first mini break when Ferrer missed a volley. Isner fired a forehand wide to even the scores once again. Isner then hit a stunning return, finding the line to again take the lead. Ferrer found a superb return that landed at an advancing Isner’s feet. Isner held the second point to set up a set point. Ferrer saved, setting up a winner with a great angled forehand, before finishing into open court.

The players changed ends, and Isner again had the opportunity, driving a superb backhand up the line for set point on his own serve. Ferrer failed to return the subsequent serve, and the match went to a deciding set.

Ferrer earned two break points in the first game of set three, but Isner saved with two aces. Three more break points came and went, and Ferrer was even denied by a bad line call on a point where the Spaniard had a very good position. Isner then used the first serve to great effect to save the replayed point. Ferrer was given a code violation for a verbal outburst relating to the bad line call, sparking a furious conversation with the umpire. Isner would hold the game.

Isner asked for the doctor for a separate stomach issue, and was under severe pressure in game three, going love-forty down with two double-faults. Isner missed and Ferrer led, and then consolidated to love. Isner managed only one more hold, as Ferrer surged ahead and closed out when Isner put a return in the net.

Ferrer will now face Andy Murray in the semi-finals, against whom he has a six-ten record. Murray has beaten Ferrer in each of their last three meetings.

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Luca Van Assche rallies from two sets to one down to beat Alex Michelsen

Published

5 hours ago

30/11/2023

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Luca Van Assche came back from two sets to one down to defeat Alex Michelsen 4-3 (7-0) 3-4 (4-7) 3-4 (4-7) 4-1 4-3 (8-6) in 2 hours and 36 minutes at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah in the second longest match in the history of this tournament.

Van Assche and Michelsen went on serve in the first three sets. Both players saved all five break points they faced in the first three sets.

There were three consecutive breaks in the fourth set. Van Assche earned two of them and served out the set at love in the fifth game.

Both players traded breaks in the fifth and sixth games of the fifth set. Van Assche earned a chance to serve for the match, but Michelsen pulled back on serve to force a tie-break.

Van Assche built a 3-0 in the tie-break with an early mini-break. Michelsen saved two match points to draw level to 6-6. Van Assche sealed the win with another mini-break on the second match point.

“He was playing very well the whole match. It was really close. Not a lot of breaks and it was difficult for me but I am very happy”, said Van Assche.

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Arthur Fils beats Dominic Stricker to end Green Group unbeaten

Published

8 hours ago

30/11/2023

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Arthur Fils battled past Dominic Stricker 4-2 3-4 (3-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-5) after 1 hour and 47 minutes in the final round-robin match to end the Green Group unbeaten with a 3-0 record at the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Stricker knew that he would advance to the semifinals if he won just one set. The Swiss player won the set he needed against the already qualified Fils to secure his spot in the semifinal despite the defeat.

Stricker saved a break point on the deciding point in the third game of the fourth set. Fils earned the break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and served out on his second set point.

Stricker held serve at love in the first game of the fourth set. The Swiss player broke serve on the deciding point to open up a 2-0 lead. Fils broke straight back in the third game and held serve at 15 to draw level to 2-2. Fils earned three mini-breaks, but Stricker pulled back on serve each time. Fils sealed the tie-break 7-5 on his second match point.

Stricker beat Fils 7-6 7-6 in Gstaad in their only previous head-to-head match last summer.

Fils saved two break points in the first game to hold serve. Stricker fended off a break point in the fourth game on the deciding point to draw level to 2-2. Fils earned his first break on his third set point with a forehand return winner in the sixth game to clinch the first set 4-2.

Stricker saved the only break point of the second set in the fourth game. Both players held on their serve en route to the tie-break. Stricker won six consecutive points from 0-1 down with two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-3.

Fils won his first title in Lyon and reached the final in Antwerp

“I knew before the match that I qualified, but I just want to win every match that I am playing. I think I put a little bit more focus out there out there today than the first two days because I know this opponent and he already beat me this year. It was a tough match but I am really happy to win and let’s see who I get in the semifinal”, said Fils in the post- match interview.

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Luca Nardi beats Flavio Cobolli but it’s not enough to advance to the semifinals at the Next Gen Finals

Published

11 hours ago

30/11/2023

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World number 115 Luca Nardi overcame Flavio Cobolli in an Italian match 3-4 (4-7) 4-2 4-3 (7-1) 1-4 4-3 (7-3) in 2 hours and 14 minutes in the final round robin match of Green Group at the Next Gen Finals at King Abdullah Sports Club in Jeddah.

The win was not enough to earn a semifinal spot for Nardi. Arthur Fils is the first player to qualify for the knock-out stage. The top seeded Frenchman will face Dominic Stricker later today. Stricker needs to win just one set to reach the semifinals.

Both players went on serve in the first set en route to the tie-break. Cobolli earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-4.

Nardi saved two break points in the third game of the second set to take a 2-1 lead. The world number 115 broke serve in the sixth game to close out the second set 4-2.

Cobolli converted his second break point in the first game of the third set. Nardi pulled back on serve in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3. Nardi opened up a 3-0 lead with two mini-breaks. Cobolli pulled one of the two mini-breaks back for 1-3. Nardi won the final four points with two mini-breaks to claim the tie-break 7-1.

Nardi clutched his groin when he was serving at 0-1 in the fourth set and called a medical time-out at 0-3. Cobolli earned a break in the second game to close out the fourth set 4-1.

Cobolli saved two break points to hold serve in the second game. Nardi fended off two break points in the fifth game. Both players held on serve en route to the tie-break. Nardi earned his first mini-break with a backhand flick from out wide to take a 2-1 lead. Cobolli pulled the mini-break back to draw level to 2-2. Nardi closed out the match with a return down the line winner.

Nardi hit 27 winners to 12 unforced errors.

“I am happy with the win. Even if I did not qualify, I think today was the best match I played out of the three. I am a bit sad I did not qualify, but I did not want to leave Jeddah without a win. I kept fighting today and I am happy”, said Nardi.