Seventh seed David Ferrer advanced to his second Grand Slam championship semi-final at the Australian Open on Wednesday, after he ended World No. 1 Rafael's Nadal quest to capture a fourth straight major title. Ferrer beat his fellow Spaniard, who was hindered by a left thigh strain, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 during the night session.
Ferrer took Nadal to eight deuces in the second game of the first set, before he converted his second break point opportunity with a stinging forehand. Nadal immediately broke back, hitting an angled backhand winner with Ferrer at the net, but at 1-2 the 2009 titlist called for the trainer and left the court for five minutes.
On his return to Rod Laver Arena, Ferrer sealed his second service break with a backhand winner down the line. It then became apparent, Nadal has strapping applied to his left thigh. The Mallorcan kept battling and broke Ferrer's serve for 4-5, but was noticeably in pain when shifting his weight to his left leg. Ferrer converted his third set point opportunity when Nadal hit a forehand into the tramlines.
Ferrer slipped to 0/40 in the third game of the second set and paid the price when he fired a backhand beyond the baseline. Any hope of a Nadal comeback ended at 2-1, when gifted Ferrer three break point opportunities. Nadal saved the first with his first ace of the match, but then hit a backhand into the net. When Ferrer led 3-2, both players headed to the locker room for 10 minutes due to the Australia Day fireworks in the Melbourne skyline over the banks of the Yarra River.
The break didn't help Nadal. His left thigh had tightened up on a cool evening at Melbourne Park and upon their return Ferrer broke serve for a 4-2 lead when Nadal hit a forehand wide. Two games later, Ferrer clinched the second set with a backhand winner down the line.
It was all one-way traffic in the third set with Ferrer completing his third straight hold for love for a 3-0 lead. Ferrer saved two break points at 3-1 with forehand winners and one break point at 4-2, 30/40 with a bullet serve out wide, before clinching a semi-final berth with a hold to love to complete a two-hour and 33-minute victory.
On his return to Rod Laver Arena, Ferrer sealed his second service break with a backhand winner down the line. It then became apparent, Nadal has strapping applied to his left thigh. The Mallorcan kept battling and broke Ferrer's serve for 4-5, but was noticeably in pain when shifting his weight to his left leg. Ferrer converted his third set point opportunity when Nadal hit a forehand into the tramlines.
Ferrer slipped to 0/40 in the third game of the second set and paid the price when he fired a backhand beyond the baseline. Any hope of a Nadal comeback ended at 2-1, when gifted Ferrer three break point opportunities. Nadal saved the first with his first ace of the match, but then hit a backhand into the net. When Ferrer led 3-2, both players headed to the locker room for 10 minutes due to the Australia Day fireworks in the Melbourne skyline over the banks of the Yarra River.
The break didn't help Nadal. His left thigh had tightened up on a cool evening at Melbourne Park and upon their return Ferrer broke serve for a 4-2 lead when Nadal hit a forehand wide. Two games later, Ferrer clinched the second set with a backhand winner down the line.
It was all one-way traffic in the third set with Ferrer completing his third straight hold for love for a 3-0 lead. Ferrer saved two break points at 3-1 with forehand winners and one break point at 4-2, 30/40 with a bullet serve out wide, before clinching a semi-final berth with a hold to love to complete a two-hour and 33-minute victory.
