Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer will square off in an encore of last week’s Monte Carlo final tomorrow in Barcelona after both Spaniards won their semifinal matches Sautrday in straight sets.
Nadal beat surprise semifinalist Ivan Dodig, a Croat ranked #56 in the world, 6-3 6-2, after starting the match by winning the first 8 points. Dodig settled down and was able to hang with the world’s top-ranked player, getting the break of service back to even things up at 3-3. Then Nadal did what Nadal does--he raised the level of his game and ran off the next six games, taking the first set and going up a break in the second.
Dodig, though, refused to give in and played some outstanding points throughout the second set, but couldn’t hold serve consistently enough to seriously challenge Nadal. Dodig took more games off the Spaniard than any other player this week, and certainly earned the respect of the Spanish crowd with his gritty effort and determination. In the end, however, Nadal was too tough an opponent. The victory was number 500 in the already stellar career for the King of Clay. It’s safe to say a lot more will follow. Nadal will go for 501 against fellow Spaniard Ferrer in the final Sunday for the second consecutive week.
Ferrer was able to get past another Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro, in the first semifinal of the day on Pista Principal at the Real Club de Tenis, 6-3 6-4.
At times, Almagro, who will enter the top 10 for the first time Monday, was playing against both Ferrer and his own mental demons. He chided himself throughout the match, especially after crucial points which he was not able to convert. Almagro was competitive in most games, and had chances to break, but Ferrer was too tough on the key points. Alamgro slammed his racket to the red clay when Ferrer took a commanding 4-2 lead in the first set after a string of Almagro unforced errors.
At 2-2 in the second set, Almagro played some inspired points to save two break points and bring the game to deuce, but Almagro once again played a loose point, and Ferrer was able to break with a beautiful inside out backhand return of serve winner.
Almagro was able to save three match points before Ferrer, who like Nadal has yet to drop a set this week, was able to close out the match and punch his ticket to his third final in the last four years at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
The Nadal-Ferrer final will guarantee that a Spaniard will remain champion of the tournament. The last time a non-Spaniard won the event was way back in 2003, when Argentine Gaston Gaudio hoisted the trophy. Ferrer is looking for his first title in Barcelona; Nadal is gunning for his sixth.
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