Sunday, April 26, 2009

Nadal To Face Ferrer In Repeat Of 2008 Final

ATP World Tour Champion Rafael Nadal is just one win away from clinching his fifth straight Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell title after dismissing World No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final of the ATP World Tour 500 tennis tournament on Saturday.

Victory for the Spaniard marked his 23rd successive win in Barcelona, taking him to a 24-1 event record. His only loss came to countryman Alex Corretja in the second round in 2003, when he made his tournament debut at age 16.

In the final Nadal will face David Ferrer in a repeat of the all-Spanish 2008 final after the fourth seed fought past fifth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5).

In blustery conditions at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona on Saturday afternoon, Nadal saved all six break points he faced in the one-hour 46-minute encounter, while converting four of nine break point chances on Davydenko’s serve to improve his career lead over the Russian to 4-2.

Davydenko, who is continuing his comeback from a left-heel injury that sidelined him for two months, slipped to a 7-3 season record after suffering his second semi-final loss in Barcelona. The 27 year old dropped to a 1-15 lifetime against World No. 1 players.

The 22-year-old Nadal’s statistics on clay continue to amaze. The Mallorcan has won his past 24 matches on the surface, with his last loss coming to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round of ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome last year, and has a staggering 141-4 match record on clay since 2005.

The left-hander is chasing his 24th clay-court title and his 35th tour-level trophy (34-9 lifetime) on all surfaces. Last week he claimed his 14th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 shield on clay at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he has won each year since 2005.

World No. 1 Nadal leads the ATP World Tour with a 32-3 match record on the season. He has clinched three tour-level titles at the Australian Open (d. Federer in five sets to win sixth Grand Slam championship), and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournaments in Indian Wells (d. Murray) and Monte-Carlo (d. Djokovic), while also finishing runner-up in Rotterdam (l. to Murray).

When Nadal takes on Ferrer in Sunday’s final it will be the eighth all-Spanish final in the Open Era at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona. Nadal defeated Ferrer in three sets to win the title last year and takes a 6-3 career lead into the pair’s 10th clash.

All-Spanish Finals In Barcelona

2009 - Rafael Nadal vs. David Ferrer
2008 - Rafael Nadal d. David Ferrer
2006 - Rafael Nadal d. Tommy Robredo
2005 - Rafael Nadal d. Juan Carlos Ferrero
2001 - Juan Carlos Ferrero d. Carlos Moya
1997 - Albert Costa d. Albert Portas
1991 - Emilio Sanchez d. Sergi Bruguera
1969 - Manuel Orantes d. Manuel Santana

World No. 13 Ferrer was made to work hard for a place in his 14th ATP World Tour final (7-6 record). Gonzalez started the match producing some of his best tennis to break twice and take a one-set lead 6-2 before Ferrer was able to make his mark in the encounter and convert two of three break points in the second set to level the match. The Javea native then took charge in the deciding set as he raced out to a 5-2 lead.

"It was a crazy match that could have gone either way," commented Ferrer. "When he double faulted, I saw a light. I played well, very aggressive, although I need to serve a bit better. I'm happy with my form and to have played well here. I love this tournament and its history."

The 14th-ranked Gonzalez hit back to break to love as Ferrer served for the match at 5-4 and replicated his form from the first set as he pushed the set to a deciding tie-break. However, the Chilean remained frustrated by Ferrer’s perseverance and crucially double-faulted at 5-5 before netting a forehand to grant Ferrer victory after two hours and 13 minutes.

The 27-year-old Ferrer, who reached a career-high No. 4 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings in February 2008, improved to a 23-8 match record as he advanced to his second final of the season. In February, the right-hander finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the Dubai final on hard court. He takes a 21-37 record against Top 10 players into the final against No. 1 Nadal.

"Rafa is the World No. 1 and the best on clay, it's very difficult to beat him," admitted Ferrer. "I'll try to play good tennis, if not I'm dead, but I'm not thinking about whether or not I'll beat him, I go on the court to play as well as possible."

(From Website : http://www.atpworldtour.com/TENNIS/1/EN/NEWS/NEWSARTICLE_3335.ASP)