Experience was key for four-time champion David Ferrer during his first round clash at the ASB Classic in Auckland.
The 35-year-old was pushed to his limits during his 7-6(7), 6-4, win over reigning US Open boy’s champion Wu Yibing. A player who is 17 years younger than him. During the two-hour clash, Ferrer could only convert three out of his 12 break point opportunities, but crucially prevailed in the crunch moments of the match. Saving two set points during the first set before breaking two consecutive times in the second to move into the last 16.
“It was really tough. The juniors are coming and it was not easy,” Ferrer said following the match.
Despite securing the win, Ferrer only had admiration for his younger rival following the match. Yibing is tipped to be the future star of Chinese tennis. Currently ranked 308th in the world, he won his first Challenger title in Shanghai last year. Becoming only the fourth player within the past five years to win a junior grand slam title and Challenger title within the same season. This week Yibing is playing in only the third ATP tournament of his career.
“It was difficult. He’s a young player with a lot of power in his shots,” he commented about the Chinese teenager.
“Experience was the key. I have 18 more years than him so I tried to play with my experience in the important moments.”
Next up for Ferrer will be Joao Sousa, who downed Donald Young in three sets in his first round match. He is currently tied at 1-1 in his head-to-head against the Portuguese player, but won their most recent meeting at the 2016 Vienna Open.
“It’s going to be a tough match, for sure,” Ferrer said of Sousa. “He’s a very tough player, we will do a lot of rallies and it will be a very physical match. Now I will rest but I hope to play better than today.”
Young guns through
The next generation of players was a hot topic at the tournament on Monday with a duo of rising stars showing their talent on the tour. Canada’s Denis Shapovalov kicked-off his 2018 season with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-3, win over Brazilian qualifier Rogério Dutra Silva. The Canadian was in sublime form as he dropped seven points on his serve throughout the entire match. Converting all three of his break point opportunities.
“I played really well today, served really big and that gave me the confidence to free up on my shots.” Shapovalov evaluated about his performance.
“I think I played the perfect match today.”
Shapovalov will take on Juan Martin del Potro in what promises to be a mouthwatering second round clash. Last year the teenager got the better of the Argentine at the Canadian Open by prevailing in straight sets. The prospect of a rematch is something that Shapovalov is relishing.
“He (Del Potro) is a champion and whenever you played guys ranked like this you’ve got to hope for the best, hope you bring out your best game,” he said.
“It’s what I grew up wanting to do, I wanted to play these big guys, so it’s going to be fun for me and hopefully it’s going to be a great match.”
21-year-old Karen Khachanov overcame a mid-match blip to dismiss Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. The world No.48, who is unseeded in the draw, won 80% of his first service points to battle past his rival. Breaking in the final game of the match to secure victory.
Finally, fifth seed Roberto Bautista Agut experienced little difficulty during his opening match. Easing his way past wildcard Michael Venus 6-2, 6-1, in less than an hour.
