honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 7:25 a.m., Thursday, November 15, 2007

Tennis: Nadal, Ferrer win at Masters Cup

By Paul Alexander
Associated Press

SHANGHAI, China — Sixth-ranked David Ferrer dominated No. 8 Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-1 today to reach the Masters Cup semifinals, and helped friend and fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal along with him.

Ferrer's easy 59-minute victory also allowed No. 2-ranked Nadal to advance from the Gold Group of the round-robin phase by eliminating Gasquet. Nadal earlier beat No. 3 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 in a match between players tired from a long season. He finished 2-1 in round-robin play.

Ferrer won his group by taking all three of his matches while dropping only one set, to Nadal. Gasquet broke him in the first game, but Ferrer then ran off eight games in a row.

"I am playing very, very, very good these three matches," Ferrer said. "To win the Masters, it's a dream."

Gasquet did not hold serve until he already was down 2-0 in the second set. Constantly on the run from Ferrer's deep groundstrokes, he managed to win just 12 of 39 points on his serve and had five winners to 25 unforced errors.

"I start horrible," Gasquet said. "That was the key of the match for me. But he has the game. He played incredible. After I lost 6-1, I lost my confidence."

Ferrer won 54 points to 25 for the Frenchman, who sent a forehand long on match point to hand Ferrer his sixth service break.

Nadal, both knees taped in recent weeks, had Djokovic in nearly constant trouble.

"I am very happy about my game today," Nadal said. "My calendar is tough because I have to play a lot of matches in the clay season. That is a good news for me, to play a lot of matches. But sometimes is tough."

Djokovic fended off two break points in the first game, then watched Nadal run off four straight games.

Djokovic showed flashes of the skills that carried him from No. 16 in the rankings in January to five titles and No. 3 in the world. But, too often, the Serb's shoulders were slumping as shots that would have been winners earlier in the year were missing. He gave a bitter smile when he netted a forehand as Nadal served at 5-4 in the first set, then trudged to his chair when he sent a backhand long on set point.

Nadal got an early break in the second set and was increasingly demonstrative as the match wore on. The Spaniard, serving at 4-3, pumped his fist eight times after fending off the second of two Djokovic break points with a great backhand volley for a player not known for his net game.

Nadal smacked a forehand winner down the line on match point.

"It wasn't my week," said Djokovic, who has played more than 100 matches this season. "I wasn't performing the way I wanted to. Unfortunately I have to finish with the three losses, which is a bit disappointing. But, of course, I don't want to think negative. It's been an amazing year."

Tomorrow, top-ranked Roger Federer will seek a semifinal place when he faces No. 5 Andy Roddick, who already has clinched his semifinals berth. Fourth-ranked Nikolay Davydenko faces No. 7 Fernando Gonzalez in the other Red Group match.