David Ferrer is one win away from an improbable Paris title defense. Standing in Ferrer’s way on Sunday is Novak Djokovic.
There’s something about Paris for David Ferrer.
He captured his first-ever Masters 1000 title at this same indoor hard-court event last fall and earlier this season he reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open. Now, Ferrer–against considerable odds–is back in the final of the BNP Paribas Masters.
The Spaniard’s latest run is surprising, to say the least–and not just because he is supposed to be at his best on clay. After stellar showings at the French Open and Wimbledon (he made it to the semis at the All-England Club), Ferrer slumped throughout most of the summer and even though he posted recent runner-up results in Stockholm and Valencia, he was favored to win those titles.
Suddenly, the 31-year-old is once again on top of his game and surging into London’s World Tour Finals. After taking out Lukas Rosol, Gilles Simon, and Tomas Berdych, Ferrer stunned countryman and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-5 in Saturday’s semifinals.
Up next for Ferrer on Sunday is a 16th career meeting with Novak Djokovic, against whom he is 5-10. Djokovic has won nine of their 11 hard-court encounters, including each of the last four and one this season (at the Australian Open). The Serb has won six consecutive sets against Ferrer–non closer than 6-4–since losing the first in last year’s U.S. Open semis.
Nobody is hotter than Djokovic right now. The world No. 2 is still in the race for the year-end top spot thanks to a perfect post-U.S. Open stretch. He captured titles in Beijing and Shanghai before extending his winning streak to 16 matches with Paris defeats of Pierre-Hugues Herbert, John Isner, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Roger Federer.
“It’s going to be a very difficult match,” Ferrer assured after his upset of Nadal. “I need to play very good to win tomorrow. I think I have to play similar like today and take my chance if I will have one chance.”
He may not, because Djokovic is in ruthless form. Ferrer managed to keep Nadal on the defensive with out-wide serves that opened up the court, but Djokovic’s return is far superior and he can take control of points early even when Ferrer makes first deliveries. On this surface, even though it is a setting the underdog is extremely comfortable with, Ferrer will have hard time sinking his teeth into rallies once Djokovic takes the initiative.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 losing 8 games or fewer
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I’d forgotten the strange sculpture trophy. No wonder Rafa hasn’t bothered to win it – he would look silly trying to bite at that 🙂
It’s going to be a rush for Nole and Daveed to get onto the court on time tomorrow.
Just checked. It’s only Ferrer playing tomorrow. Djokovic has a day’s rest before playing Federer.
No, Ferru is resting tomorrow as well? He plays Rafa on Tuesday in the afternoon and Novak plays Fed in the evening.
@Sanju, thanks for reminding me about Rafa’s clay run. I had his HC run: Montreal, Cincy and USO in mind. Proves my point though……….
This is Novak’s bread and butter part of the season. For him to falter here would be a disaster worse than the FO, Wimby and USO disappointments. It’s the same as expecting Rafa to falter in the clay swing, doesn’t happen. This is why I am not too impressed with Novak’s great showing, it was expected. I am more impressed with Rafa tbh because this is his worst part of the season and he has done way better than usual this time of the year.
#Perspective
The result was NID. Djokovic is simply a horrid matchup for Ferrer, as he is just as fast, but with more power at the baseline.
Ferrer plays on tuesday against nadal. So he has a day off as well I think.
Quite right. That makes a lot better sense.
At least for next year the schedule has been adjusted to give players a break between Paris and London which will make the playing field more level.
I am very ashamed of myself not to have bothered watching the final because I was sulking that Rafa was not in it. I am happy that it was not a straight forward win, that vindicates Rafa to a certain extent.
Ferrer made it slightly more competitive than a lot of people were expecting. Including Djokovic himself !
I thought for the most part the crowd were better behaved this year.
Nole is not playing his best either, which is mainly why Ferrer was able to push him a bit…however, even Nole’s 80% was enough to beat Ferru who has never believed he could win this one anyway…Rafa was below his I say 50%, and that is why he lost…and I also believe similar to rafaisthebest said at the different thread: Rafa just let it go…
London’s calling..
@nats
Last year they didn’t play that. Dunno why, so iconic.
🙁
Nole said he is experiencing some physical issues but nothing he has not experienced before
On No 1 he said, its in Rafas hands who is the YE No 1, he jst needs to play at this level
Yes Novak did not play that well, Ferru gifted him the match..both sets
Can you win slams next year? Federer: “the French is a different story” but everywhere else “it’s more in my racquet than anybody else’s”
LOL
Fed is in some serious denial. 🙂
RT @juanjo_sports: “Ferru will now embark on his fourth (!!!!) straight week of tennis. He’s played a 250, a 500, a M1000 and now the WTFs.”
Even the Duracell bunny runs out of gas at some point……..
rafaisthebest@November 3, 2013 at 6:28 pm
—Ferru will now embark on his fourth (!!!!) straight week of tennis.—-
His 7th (!!!!!!!) straight week. Ferru has played:
23.09.2013 ATP-250 Kuala Lumpur
30.09.2013 ATP-500 Beijing
07.10.2013 Masters 1000 Shanghai
14.10.2013 ATP-250 Stockholm
21.10.2013 ATP-500 Valencia
28.10.2013 Masters 1000 Paris
Until Shanghai, Novak Djokovic had not made a final in a HC M1000 in 2013, his best surface. Now, thanks to the fact that 6 out of the 9 M1000s are played on one surface, HC, he has now won 2.
See why I find it hard to be impressed, @Sanju?
I do agree that it would have been a disaster had Djoker not done well in the fall hard court season. That has been his bread and butter, in fact the hard court season overall. But prior to this time of year, Djoker hasn’t gotten it done. Rafa is the one who has done so well on hard courts this year.
I don’t think Djoker is doing anything special. Maybe holding his serve better. Less double faults. But I didn’t think he was that impressive in his matches this week. I think Wawa was most likely thinking ahead to London and wasn’t going to kill himself in Paris at the quarterfinals. Fed made a match of it, taking Djoker to three sets. It will be interesting to see Fed and Djoker go at it in London. Djoker didn’t have to do anything great to beat Ferrer.
Maybe this comment belongs on the Novak thread: we have yet to see from Novak that he is making serious changes to his game post 2011, I mean really evolving it rather than buying the hype that he has reached such a level that there is little improvement possible. I won’t hold my breath. He hasn’t done it in the two years following his golden year and I see no signs of him understanding there even is an issue. Thus 2014 will likely see him play in similar ways to the last two years instead of rising higher in various skills, which would at the same time prepare him to use what he can to his best ability just a few short years from now when he will start to approach 30.