RICKY DIMON REVIEWS THE ATP MEN’S TENNIS THIS WEEK, FERRER, BERDYCH INCH EVER-CLOSER TO LONDON WITH TITLES

Written by: Staff on 5th October 2015

RICKY DIMON REVIEWS THE ATP MEN'S TENNIS THIS WEEK, FERRER, BERDYCH INCH EVER-CLOSER TO LONDON WITH TITLES

epa04962706 David Ferrer of Spain returns the ball to his compatriot Feliciano Lopez during their final match of the ATP Malaysian Open tennis tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 04 October 2015. Ferrer won 7-5 and 7-5. EPA/FAZRY ISMAIL |

David Ferrer captured his fourth ATP title of the season and first since February when he defeated fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 7-5, 7-5 at the Malaysian Open on Sunday.

Ferrer battled back from a break down at 4-3 in the opening set before facing and saving one break point in the second. He eventually got the job done after one hour and 33 minutes. With an additional 250 points to his credit, the world No. 8 boosted his chances for World Tour Finals qualification. He was an alternate last year and played one round-robin match when Milos Raonic withdrew.

“It’s a goal for me to be there, because I’ve had a very consistent year,” Ferrer assured. “My goal at the start of the season was to be in London and I’m in a good position in the race. I will try to do my best to be there.

“It has not been easy because I started so well and I had to stop for three months after Roland Garros. I missed many important tournaments, but I’m feeling better and after the U.S. Open and Kuala Lumpur. I know can play well again.”

A rain-delayed Shenzhen Open finally ended on Monday with Tomas Berdych beating Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 7-6(7). The fifth-ranked Czech recovered from a break down in the second set to prevail in one hour and 48 minutes.

“The last three days were tough, especially mentally to keep being very focused,” Berdych reflected. “I was the one who dealed with that the best. I’m proud of myself to make it happen, because these conditions were not easy at all.”

Berdych has just about clinched a spot in the World Tour Finals at No. 5 in the race with 4,100 points. The four players head of Berdych–Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, and Stan Wawrinka–have already secured their places. Kei Nishikori, Rafael Nadal, and Ferrer round out the top eight.

Ferrer has a 900-point lead over No. 9 Richard Gasquet following the 33-year-old’s Kuala Lumpur triumph. He owns 3,255 points to Gasquet’s 2,355. Kevin Anderson (10th) and John Isner (11th) are also in distant contention.

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

Topics: Atp World Tour, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, London, Malaysian Open, Ricky Dimon, Shenzhen Open, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych, World Tour Finals

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

10sBalls_com says:

October 5, 2015 at 2:14 pm

-@Dimonator REVIEWS THE #ATP MEN’S TENNIS THIS WEEK, @DavidFerrer87, @tomasberdych INCH EVER-CLOSER TO #LONDON… http://t.co/jpVL5xWato