By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, November 20, 2015
In the longest match of the World Tour Finals, Rafael Nadal fought off David Ferrer, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4, to remain unbeaten in London.
Photo credit: CameraSport
Squealing sneakers, determined grunts and dueling thwacking of piercing forehands reverberated throughout the O2 Arena.
When Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer share the court, effort echoes on nearly every point.
In the longest match of the tournament, Nadal brought the sound and flurry fighting off Ferrer, 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4, in a grueling drama to remain unbeaten at the World Tour Finals in London.
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Nadal, who squandered a 3-0 lead and failed to convert set point serving for the first set at 6-5, should be pleased with his spirited response rallying past Ferrer for the 24th time in 30 meetings. Nadal completed round-robin play with a 3-0 record winning the Ilie Nastase group.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who will play Nadal in Saturday afternoon's semifinals, should take satisfaction from the fact the 14-time Grand Slam champion expended a good bit of energy in a physically-punishing two hour, 37-minute match.
Surging out to a commanding start, Nadal grew passive in some stretches as Ferrer forced him to counter. But Nadal, who did not face a break point in the final set, continued to grind away with relentless ambition.
Hovering around the baseline from the first point, Nadal played with the urgency of a man determined to strike first in rallies. The lefthander's depth and heavy topspin forehand forced Ferrer back as Nadal rolled through 10 of the first 11 points.
Ripping a forehand winner crosscourt for double break point, Nadal wristed a drop volley winner for a second break for 3-0.
Opponents seldom see free points against Nadal, so Ferrer got right back to work digging out balls in the trenches behind the baseline breaking back for 1-3. Occasionally hitting his flat two-hander to Nadal's forehand and creating sharper angles with his inside-out forehand, Ferrer roared back. Drilling an inside-out forehand winner, Ferrer broke again at love winning 12 of 14 points to level 3-all.
The seventh seed's willingness to redirect drives down the line helped him build the lead, but a crucial miss down the line cost him a third break. Ferrer had a good look at a forehand but pushed it deep down the line for break point. He netted a backhand as Nadal converted on his third break point for 6-5.
There were a few more plot twists to come. Nadal fought back from 0-40 down to earn set point, but Ferrer saved it with a diagonal forehand dagger. Another inside-out forehand winner gave Ferrer a fifth break point and when Nadal floated a volley deep, Ferrer forced the tie break.
In a ragged start to the breaker Nadal committed three errors and a double fault falling behind 1-4. Ferrer never looked back, doubling his former Davis Cup teammate in winners (14 to 7) in snatching the one-hour opener.
Second-serve strength was a key to the second set. Despite serving just 46 percent, Nadal won 12 of 14 points on his second serve in the set compared to two of eight for Ferrer.
The nine-time French Open champion crunched a deep return breaking for 5-4. Nadal raced through 12 of the final 13 points, hooking a forehand winner to force a third set.
Tension escalated during a draining 14-minute opener as Ferrer fought off five break points, using this brilliant lob winner to earn a hard-fought hold.
Leading 4-3, 30-all, Ferrer lined up a forehand, but netted it. Nadal slid his first ace to quiet the uprising from 0-30 down for 4-all.
Empowered by that escape, Nadal took a 0-30 lead in the ensuing game. Ferrer netted a backhand giving his opponent a sixth break point in the set. Reading the oncoming shot, Nadal slid left and curled a forehand winner down the line finally breaking through for 5-4.
Nadal, who did not face a break point in the final set, closed the curtain on more than two-and-a-half hours of drama. thumping a pair of overheads to set up a clean drop volley.