Match Report: Ferrer Survives Against Tipsarevic

David Ferrer was pushed to a final set tiebreak against Janko Tipsarevic in one of the best matches of the tournament before the No. 4 seed advanced to the semifinals in New York.

By Erik Gudris

(September 6, 2012) -- David Ferrer has been described in many ways over the years, but perhaps it was an 80's rock song that best summed him up as he advanced to the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time in five years after a titanic struggle with Janko Tipsarevic.

Having not played each other in four years, it was expected their quarterfinal match would be a baseline battle and it was that and more as both men pushed each other in over four-and-a-half hours of play.

Ferrer claimed the first set 6-3 and looked on his way to controlling the afternoon before Tipsarevic began finding incredible winners, especially off of his backhand side. Tipsarevic, who was seeking to reach his first ever major semi, fought off break points at 5-all and then took the second set in a tiebreak. Tipsarevic then raised his level in the third set, playing high risk tennis that saw him hit 15 winners at one stretch to blaze out to a 5-2 lead.

Though he took a time out to have blisters on his toes dealt with by a trainer, Ferrer couldn't stop Tipsarevic's momentum as the Serb seized the third set and looked in control. But Ferrer fought back, seizing an early break of serve that allowed him to claim the fourth set and push the match into a decider.

But Tipsarevic wasn't ready to give in as he took an early break in the final set and then jumped out to a 4-1 lead. Tipsarevic took a hard fall during one point, and though he was okay, it was Ferrer who reasserted himself to break back for 4-3.

At 4-all Tipsarevic, while down 15-40 on his serve, called a timeout to have his groin taped, a move that some watching the match felt like gamesmanship especially after Tipsarevic later held serve for 5-4. Ferrer fought back from 15-30 himself in the next game to hold his own serve and after two more service holds the match entered a final set tiebreak.

After the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium saluted both men with a standing ovation for their tremendous fight, Ferrer and Tipsarevic got down to business as they pushed each other to the limit until it was Ferrer who hit a crosscourt forehand winner to go up 5-3. The Spaniard hit line after line on the next point before another winning forehand gave him 6-3. Tipsarevic fought off two match points, one with an ace, but it was a final netted backhand from Tipsarevic that gave a delighted Ferrer the 6-3, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) win.

"I think it was a high, intense match with not too many ups and downs, you know, apart from my bad tennis in the middle of the first set where I lost I think four games in a row," said Tipsarevic afterwards. "I don't think that there was any other part of the match where either of us played really bad. I think it was high, intense match, something which I predicted. I said after my last match victory both of us are baseline players, both of us I guess are big fighters on court, so something like that, something like this was only expected."

"It was very emotional," said Ferrer who has now reached his second semifinal at a Grand Slam this year. "My opponent, he deserve also to won this match, no? In one tiebreak it's a lottery, and I had lucky in important moments. My respect to Janko Tipsarevic, because he's playing really good and having a really good season the last year and this year also."

And the song that played Ferrer out as he exited the stadium? Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger".

(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)