By Adrianna Outlaw | Saturday, July 22, 2017
David Ferrer fought off Fernando Verdasco, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4, to reach his fourth Bastad final where he will face Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Photo credit: Skistar Swedish Open
Putting in the hard yards throughout his distinguished career may have slowed David Ferrer slightly.
The 35-year-old Ferrer hasn’t lost a bit of his feistiness.
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Ferrer fought off compatriot Fernando Verdasco, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-4—his 10th consecutive victory over Verdasco—fighting into his fourth Bastad final.
It is Ferrer’s first final since he won the 2015 Vienna title.
Ferrer will face Alexandr Dolgopolov in tomorrow’s final. Ferrer has won nine of 13 meetings with Dolgopolov though the 89th-ranked Ukrainian has won two of their last three matches, including a 6-4, 6-4, sweep on the red clay of Rio last spring.
Dolgopolov dismissed 88th-ranked Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-3, 6-2.
The eighth-seeded Ferrer broke at love in Verdasco’s opening service game, built a 4-0 lead after less than 15 minutes and never looked back storming to a one-set lead.
A brief demonstration from a protestor interrupted the second set.
Two-time finalist Verdasco, who knocked off defending champion Albert Ramos-Vinolas en route to the semifinals, fought off a couple of match points holding for 5-all in the second set, eventually forcing the tie break.
Ferrer broke at 30 in the third game of the final set.
The 46th-ranked Spaniard raised his record to 25-7 reaching his 52nd career final. He will play for his 27th title tomorrow.
The former French Open finalist has raised the Bastad title trophy in 2007 and 2012.