Federer Cruises into Semifinals with 14th Straight Win over Ferrer

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Federer Cruises into Semifinals with 14th Straight Win over Ferrer

By Chris Oddo

Roger Federer beats David Ferrer for the 14th time

(November 8, 2012) -- Same old, same old, and some things never change. In other words, so much for saying "Nobody beats David Ferrer 14 times in a row," because Roger Federer does.

The World No. 2 and 17-time Grand Slam champion traveled a rocky road against the Spaniard on Thurdsay in London, but Federer eventually prevailed in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 to win his 70th match of 2012. The victory means the Federer has qualified for the semifinals and is two wins away from his seventh title at the ATP's prestigious year-end championships.

Federer had to save 7 of 8 break points against Ferrer in the first set, but the feisty Spaniard did manage to rebound from a 3-0 hole with a break in the fifth game and a hold in the next to draw even at three apiece.

Ferrer fought off a Federer break point opportunity to hold for 4-4 but the Spaniard could not hold serve to stay in the set, losing it 6-4.

A determined Ferrer would earn two more break points in the first game of the second set, but Federer won two points at the net to crawl his way back to deuce, then finally claimed the game with a sublime drop shot that Ferrer could not handle.

Those would prove to be Ferrer's final break point chances on the afternoon, and while he was good enough to snuff out a Federer opportunity in the fourth game, Ferrer's inability to take advantage of a lot of spotty play from Federer would ultimately be his undoing.

As they marched into a second set tiebreaker there was the growing sense that no matter how well Ferrer played or how off-kilter Federer seemed to be at times, there was going to be a flurry of points that would eventually turn the winds in favor of Federer yet again.

"I'm qualified and so I'm thrilled," said a contented Federer after stealing the tiebreaker, 7-5 to claim his eighth consecutive set over Ferrer.

Ferrer, who had his eleven match winning streak snapped today, still has a good shot to qualify for the semifinals. He will face Janko Tipsarevic on Saturday.

(Photo Credit: AP)