FERRER WINS THRILLER OVER DODIG, SPANIARDS STAY HOT IN INDIAN WELLS CALIFORNIA BY RICKY DIMON WHO IS ALSO ROASTING & TOASTING

Written by: Staff on 15th March 2015

FERRER WINS THRILLER OVER DODIG, SPANIARDS STAY HOT IN INDIAN WELLS CALIFORNIA BY RICKY DIMON WHO IS ALSO ROASTING & TOASTING

epa04662890 David Ferrer of Spain in action against Ivan Dodig of Croatia during their second round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2015. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

David Ferrer came into this week with a shockingly poor 9-11 lifetime singles record at the BNP Paribas Open, six times losing his first match of the tournament. A spirited performance by Ivan Dodig on Saturday evening almost extended that number to seven.

Instead, Ferrer gutted out a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6) second-round thriller that lasted two hours and 42 minutes. The eighth-ranked Spaniard steadied himself after failing to serve out the match at 6-5 in the third set and recovered from a 5-3 deficit in the decisive tiebreaker.

With a solid 6-3, 7-5 victory over Joao Sousa already under his belt in Indian Wells while his opponent was making a transition from clay to a hard court, Dodig raced to a fast start. The Croat gave back an early break but seized a second scalp of Ferrer’s serve before closing out the opening frame of play at 5-4.

Ivan Dodig of Croatia in action against David Ferrer of Spain during their second round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 14 March 2015. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

A routine second set for Ferrer led to a dramatic third. Both men produced their best tennis as 10 consecutive holds resulted in a 5-5 deadlock, at which point they traded service breaks. In the ‘breaker, Dodig twice gave back mini-break advantages–although it was no fault of his own. Ferrer came up with a perfect backhand return at 1-3 and crushed a lunging forehand return at 3-5. Dodig, who had already saved two match points a game earlier, fought off another one at 5-6. At long last, a netted drop-shot by the world No. 96 put an end to the drama.

At least one fellow professional was enthralled by the proceedings.

“Watching @DavidFerrer87 vs @DodigTennis on @TennisTV. Phenomenal match! #tennis #BNPO15″ is what Sergiy Stahovsky posted on Twitter.

Then shortly thereafter from Stakhovsky: “Are you watching this??? Incredible!! #tennis #BNPO15″.

Ferrer has also advanced a round in the doubles bracket. Teaming up with Fernando Verdasco, the all-Spanish duo downed Grigor Dimitrov and Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. They will face Rohan Bopanna and Daniel Nestor on Sunday.

As for Verdasco, he took care of qualifier James Duckworth 6-2, 7-6(3) during second-round singles action on Saturday.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: BNP Paribas Open, David Ferrer, Indian Wells, Ivan Dodig, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 15, 2015 at 9:30 am

-@DavidFerrer87 WINS THRILLER OVER @DodigTennis, SPANIARDS STAY HOT IN #IndianWells CALIFORNIA BY @Dimonator http://t.co/7umN2Oy6Tn #BNPPO15
rgn156 says:

March 15, 2015 at 11:28 am

RT @TennisNewsOne: FERRER WINS THRILLER OVER DODIG, SPANIARDS STAY HOT IN INDIAN WELLS CALIFORNIA BY RICKY DIMON WHO IS A… http://t.co/SM…