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Ferrer reaches semi-finals after thrilling win
David Ferrer of Spain celebrates (Reuters)
BBC Sport – David Ferrer fought back from 4-1 down in the deciding fifth set to reach his second US Open semi-final after a remarkable victory in a gripping contest against Janko Tipsarevic.
The Spaniard secured a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win in four hours and 31 minutes on Arthur Ashe. “I don’t have words. I’m really happy. It was an emotional match. It was a lottery,” said the fourth seed. He will play either Novak Djokovic or Juan Martin del Potro in the last four.
Both players received standing ovations before and after the decisive tie-break and the world number five, who won five of the final six points of the match, admitted he was almost speechless.
“Janko is an amazing player and he also deserved to win,” said Ferrer, who had dropped just the one set on his way to the quarter-finals. “I tried always to fight a lot, to be focused on every point. I was a break down, but I was fighting and I won.”
Ferrer, aiming to reach a fourth semi-final of a major tournament, was surprisingly out of sorts in the opening game as a wild forehand gifted the Serb an early break.
Tipsarevic’s advantage soon disappeared as Ferrer, capitalising on the eighth seed’s faltering first serve, broke back in the fourth game and went on to win the next five games to secure the opening set in 36 minutes.
The Serb changed tactic by advancing to the net more frequently in the second set. It was a ploy which paid dividends for the 28-year-old, although he was unable to trouble his opponent’s serve as Ferrer produced eight aces during a closely-fought set.
Ferrer, enjoying the most successful season of his career, attempted to turn the screw in the closing stages but squandered four break points in the 10th game.
Almost inevitably, the set was decided by a tie-break and two delicious backhand winners followed by an unstoppable forehand into the corner helped the relentless Tipsarevic grab his third set point. The Serb – aggressive and seemingly buoyed by the spirit of the underdog – produced 18 winners in an entertaining third set, his backhand a potent weapon as he broke in the fourth and sixth games.
Tipsarevic let a double break point slip in the third game of the fourth set however and his generosity proved costly as Ferrer took the match into a decider after breaking in the eighth game.
The start of the fifth set was delayed because Tipsarevic needed treatment on his weary feet but the Serb, having saved three break points in the opening game, seemed unhindered as he broke in the second game and sauntered to a 4-1 lead.
With the finishing line in sight, Tipsarevic stumbled at the end of the sixth game and Ferrer pounced by breaking immediately.
Facing double break points in the ninth game, Tipsarevic needed more treatment, this time on his thigh, and the trainer’s healing hands seemed to do the trick, at least temporarily until Ferrer secured victory in a nervy tie-break.
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