MASON - August 18, 2006 - A 32-minute rain delay couldn’t faze former World No.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero on Friday at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters. The unseeded Ferrero needed two hours and 43 minutes to get by No.2 seed Rafael Nadal 7-6(2), 7-6(3). The win marks Ferrero’s second return to the Cincinnati semifinals, having done so in 2002 (l. to Moya).
Ferrero was twice within two points from winning the match, once at 5-4 and again at 6-5, but Nadal wouldn’t give in, blasting winners and aces to keep his hopes alive. In the second-set tie-break, Ferrero caught an early break to lead 2-0 and never looked back, securing a spot in the final four when Nadal’s last shot sailed long.
“Maybe he play his best match against me for sure,” said Nadal. “I didn’t play my best match in my life, but I wasn’t playing very bad. He played a good match. Today I had my chances, but he played very good important moments.”
Ferrero’s victory over his 20-year-old compatriot was the first in five attempts. The pair met four times last year, with Nadal winning each time. Ferrero, the 2003 Roland Garros champion, advances to his second semifinal of the year (Buenos Aires) and improves his record in Cincinnati to 12-6. This is his best ATP Masters Series showing since April 2005 when he reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo where he lost to Guillermo Coria.
“Today I felt really comfortable in the court and with a lot of confidence with my forehand,” said Ferrero. “That was one of the keys of the match, you know. I did a lot of points, I made a lot of points with my forehand all the time, and I tried to get it in the court and try to get the point quickly.”
“It's a special win of course because Nadal is one of the best players in the world. He's No. 2.”
Ferrero’s semifinal opponent will be No. 7 seed Tommy Robredo, a 7-6(6), 6-2 winner over No. 4 seed Ivan Ljubicic. Robredo, who has won 40 consecutive service games this week, again relied heavily on his serve to defeat the World No. 3. Though the Croat fired 11 aces, Robredo, the No. 2 Spaniard behind Nadal, won 81 percent of his first service points and saved all six of the break points forced by Ljubicic.
Robredo is making his fifth straight appearance in Cincinnati, compiling an 11-4 record and reaching the semis in 2004 before falling to Lleyton Hewitt. The 24-year-old Spaniard will be gunning for his second ATP Masters Series shield in 2006 (Hamburg), and is aiming for his fifth career ATP title. With the win, Robredo improves to 36-19 this season.
