Merciless Nadal packs off Ferrero
Source: Agencies |
April 17, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JUAN Carlos Ferrero had high hopes of advancing into the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters but instead smacked into an impenetrable brick wall named Rafael Nadal yesterday.
Nadal's shock fourth round defeat at last year's French Open was long forgotten as the claycourt master, four-time winner at Roland Garros, powered past his fellow Spaniard 6-4, 6-2.
Ferrero, who had won 17 of his 18 matches on the slow surface this season, tried to attack Nadal's backhand. Nadal in turn reacted by stifling Ferrero.
The second seed, looking for a record sixth win in Monte Carlo and a first ATP title in 11 months, will next face compatriot David Ferrer, a 7-5, 7-6 winner of German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The all-Spanish showdown had to be halted midway through the first set after gusting winds and rain caused havoc on court.
World No. 3 Nadal wiped off dust in his eyes in the third game, while VIPs on the terrace had the sunshades pulled back into place after sudden gusts of winds sent white napkins flying.
But Ferrero refused to get distracted by the airborne debris and grabbed a 3-2 lead in the tense encounter when the players were ordered back into the locker room.
While some fans took cover from the elements by draping Spanish flags around their shoulders, a clearly disgusted Nadal wore a grumpy look as he trudged out of centre court for around 30 minutes.
Upon resumption Nadal stepped up a gear to break for 5-4 with a stunning forehand, following up on serve to clinch the opening set with a service winner. The former world No. 1 kept up pressure, breaking in the first game of the second set as Ferrero gradually ran out of steam -- and hope.
A crosscourt forehand winner gave Nadal another break for 4-1, which delighted his father Sebastian who kept a close eye on the match from under his panama hat.
Ferrero found unlikely angles to save a couple match points but bowed to the inevitable on the third, returning a serve into the net.
Spot of bother
Ferrer, seeded 11th, ran into a spot of bother against Kohlschreiber. The Spaniard broke decisively in the 11th game to take the opening set when Kohlschreiber netted a forehand.
With Ferrer serving for the match, Kohlschreiber came out strong to break back to love and send the contest into a tiebreak. The decider was a no contest, Ferrer winning it 7-1 when Kohlschreiber misfired a routine backhand into the stands as the skies faded to grey.
In South Carolina, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark beat Patty Schnyder 6-2, 7-5 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Family Circle Cup.
Wozniacki, ranked No. 2 in the world, overcame a sluggish second set to notch her third victory in four matches against the Swiss player.
She now faces sixth-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia, who defeated Aleksandra Wozniak of Canada 6-2, 6-4.
China's Peng Shuai also reached the quarters with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 victory over No. 10 seed Elena Vesnina of Russia. Next up for Peng is fourth-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia, a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 winner over No. 14-seeded Vera Dushevina of Russia.
Second-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia also advanced with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Evgeniya Rodina of Russia.
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