BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: World number 10 David Ferrer of Spain yesterday braved an ace onslaught from seventh seed Ivo Karlovic of Croatia to reach the final of $1.2m Qatar ExxonMobil Open.
Ferrer, who has bagged 21 career titles, won 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) in 2 hours and 31 minutes on Centre Court at Khalifa Tennis Complex.
In the final today, fourth seed Ferrer will meet form player Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Third seed Berdych yesterday crushed unseeded Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 6-3 to reach his 13th career final.
In the first semi-final Ferrer backed his baseline game with a resolute defiance to tackle the huge kicking serves of Karlovic - who stunned world number one Novak Djokovic on Thursday - to reach his 47th career final.
It was Ferrer’s fourth career win over Karlovic in five meetings. Karlovic, the oldest player left in the draw at 35, fired 30 aces over three sets but Ferrer rallied from a set down to edge the 6’11” tall Croatian.
Ferrer admitted Karlovic played better in the first set. “It was mentally a very tough match. Well, I think in the first set he was better than me. He was more intense than me,” Ferrer, 32, said.
“In the second and the third sets, it was very very close. I think in the second set, maybe I had more chances, and in the third set it was very even,” the Spaniard said.
“I always try to be focused every point and be focused to do the best on each point,” Ferrer said when asked about his intense battle with Karlovic yesterday.
“And today I think this match is very important as I had to concentrate more than the other players because with Ivo Karlovic, if you make one or two mistakes with his serves, you are out (of the game),” he added.
Ferrer said he worked hard in the off-season to fine-tune his game.
“Well, this pre-season I work a lot,” Ferrer said.
“I had one month work with my new coach, and I think we improve some details in my tennis, like a slice on my serve,” he added. “For tomorrow, well, now I want to rest and to do a massage with my physio and to be ready for the final. I will talk with my coach,” Ferrer said.
“Yesterday I think my opponent was (going to be) Novak Djokovic, and it was surprise (to see) Ivo Karlovic (in the semi-finals),” Ferrer said with a smile.
Karlovic fired 10 aces in his six service games as the two headed into a tie-breaker to decide the opening set.
Ferrer struggled with his returns as Karlovic quickly turned a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 card with a couple of sizzling down the line forehands followed by an easy volley to take the tie-breaker at 7-2.
In the second tie-breaker, Ferrer saw Karlovic take a 3-1 lead with an ace.
However, Ferrer recovered with a forehand down the line to draw level at 3-3 soon afterwards. Karlovic produced a 219-kmh ace to draw level at 4-4 but Ferrer produced an overhead lob to go 5-4 ahead.
An unforced error by Karlovic gave Ferrer the set point which was duly picked up as the Croat hit a return into the net to lose the tie-breaker at 7-5.
At 3-all in the third tie-break, Karlovic misjudged a lob return by Ferrer and let the ball go. But the ball bounced on the line to allow the Spaniard jump to a 4-3 lead. A couple of long returns by Karlovic saw Ferrer surge ahead to a 6-3 lead and the Spaniard produced a backhand passing shot to seal the match.
Meanwhile, in the second semi-final, third seed Berdych crushed Seppi in straight sets to secure today’s final berth.
Ferrer leads Berdych 7-5 in career head-to-head with the last win coming for the Czech at the Australian Open last year.
Berdych, who has appeared in 12 finals and 10 career titles to his name, said he was ready for today’s final.
“So far it has been a good week. I have been feeling good on the court and that is important to me. There is one more day to go,” Berdych said ahead of today’s final. “The week is not over yet. It is an important day (today),” he said
Berdych, 29, said most players want to avoid a clash against fast-serving Karlovic.
“No one from all of us wants to play him (Karlovic). He’s a very tough opponent. I have to say I watched a quite a lot of that match (first semi-final between Ferrer and Karlovic) and Ivo played incredibly well. Ferrer had to fight for each point. So it is not going to be an easy final at all,” the Czech said.
“I am going to rest and bring back my weapons tomorrow and give it another shot,” Berdych said with a smile. THE PENINSULA
