( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/1/Doha-Friday-Ferrer-Berdych.aspx )
David Ferrer survived an ace onslaught from Ivo Karlovic to clinch a berth in his 47th tour-level final at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Friday.
The fourth-seeded Spaniard overcame 30 aces and 67 winners for the victory in three tie-break sets, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), 7-6(4). Ferrer reached the Doha final for the first time in five appearances, having previously advanced as far as the semi-finals in 2013 (l. to Davydenko). He will seek his first ATP World Tour title since hoisting the Buenos Aires trophy last February, when he faces World No. 7 Tomas Berdych on Saturday.
“This preseason I worked hard,” said Ferrer. “I had one month of work with my new coach (Francisco Fogues), and I think we improved some details in my tennis, like the slice and my serve. Now I want to rest and to have a massage with my physio and be ready for tomorrow.”
Ferrer, who fired 47 winners and hit just 18 unforced errors, was steady throughout the two-hour and 32-minute affair. With his back against the wall, the 32 year old held his ground in the second set tie-break, claiming three straight points from 4-5 down to force a decider.
Neither player could muster a break point in the third set, despite Karlovic pressing for the break at 4-4. Ferrer would snatch the initiative during the deciding tie-break, clipping a mid-court backhand slice that curled away from a charging Karlovic and smacked the tramline. The Croat would eventually save a match point with a second serve ace, but was unable to complete the comeback, succumbing when Ferrer converted a stunning backhand pass on the run for the win.
Despite the loss, Karlovic reached another aces milestone in passing Andy Roddick for second place on the all-time list (9,092). Earlier in the week, the 35 year old became just the third player to reach the 9,000 aces plateau, joining Roddick and all-time leader Goran Ivanisevic.
Topics: Atp, David Ferrer, Doha, Ivo Karlovic, Qatar ExxonMobil Open, Tennis, Tomas Berdych
-@DavidFerrer87 OUTLASTS @ivokarlovic TO REACH #DOHA FINAL, FACES @tomasberdych- http://t.co/rW6T4y2S8c #tennis #Doha2015 #ATP #ATPdoha