A blockbuster showdown between David Ferrer and Gael Monfils will headline the semifinal proceedings in Vienna on Saturday. The other match is set to feature Steve Johnson and Ernests Gulbis.
(1) David Ferrer vs. (6) Gael Monfils
Ferrer and Monfils will be squaring off for the sixth time in their careers when they collide in the semifinals of the Erste Bank Open on Saturday. Monfils is leading the head-to-head series 3-2, but Ferrer has won two of their three previous hard-court encounters. The two veterans most recently faced each other on the indoor hard courts of Valencia in 2013, when the Spaniard prevailed 6-3, 6-2. Monfils’ last victory over Ferrer came via a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5, 1-6, 8-6 decision in round four of the 2011 French Open.
Ferrer is surging toward the World Tour Finals thanks to a convincing bounce-back from an elbow injury. The eighth-ranked Spaniard missed Wimbledon and almost the entire American summer before reaching the third round of the U.S. Open, capturing a title in Kuala Lumpur, and advancing to the Beijing semis. So far this week he has taken out Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, and Fabio Fognini. Monfils booked his spot in the last four by defeating Thomaz Bellucci, Paolo Lorenzi, and Lukas Rosol. This is the 21st-ranked Frenchman’s first tournament since the U.S. Open and he had previously not won a match since Montreal. Ferrer, who lost eight total games to Garcia-Lopez and Fognini, is too confident and focused right now for Monfils.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
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Ernests Gulbis vs. Steve Johnson
This surprising Vienna battle is an intriguing matchup between arguably the ugliest backhand in the top 50 and almost unquestionably the most inconsistent forehand in the soon-to-be top 100 (Gulbis is currently 117th but he will climb to at least the top 90). Interestingly, though, the Latvian has never been particularly competitive in the head-to-head series. Johnson pulled away for a 6-7(3), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 victory at the 2012 U.S. Open before coasting 6-4, 6-4 at the 2014 Cincinnati Masters.
Gulbis’ presence in this rare all-unseeded 500-point semifinal is especially stunning. He had been a dismal 9-22 at the ATP level in 2015 prior to this week and was riding a six-match losing streak dating back to Montreal. Suddenly, though, Gulbis found his game and ousted Lucas Miedler, John Isner, and Ivo Karlovic. Johnson has advanced with wins at the expense of Alexandr Dolgopolov, Jerzy Janowicz, and Kevin Anderson. In six combined matches this week, Gulbis and Johnson have played only one straight-setter (Gulbis in two tiebreakers against Karlovic). Based on current form and past history, Johnson should once again stay mentally strong enough to get the best of his opponent in a close one.
Pick: Johnson in 3
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Monfils starts his service game with a double fault, Monfils with a backhand winner but Ferrer gets to 15-30 with another Monfils error Ferrer has 2 bps Mon saves the fist with a forehand winner Monfils saves the 2nd too but an overhead winner and Ferrer has a 3rd break point but Monfils saves the Bp and holds to make it 3-3
Ferrer isn’t discouraged by missing out on 3 bps as he holds to love Ferrer 4-3.
Monfils has a 30-0 lead on serve Ferrer makes it 30 all but Monfils wins the next 2 points to hold its 4-4
Monfils moves to 0-30 on the Ferrer serve Ferrer serves an ace to make it 15-30 a long rally goes to Ferrer as Monfils net a forehand, Monfils then misses a return and Ferrer has game point, a misses forehand by Ferrer and its deuce a put away at net Ferrer has game point again, Ferrer serves his first double fault deuce again, Ferrer misses a backhand long and Monfils has his 8th bp of the match but Monfils again fails to convert as Ferrer saves it Ferrer then moves to advantage as he puts away a volley after a series of forehands Ferrer holds for 5-4 when Monfils misses a forehand.
a double fault by Monfils and Ferrer is 2 points away from the set Monfils hits a drop shot ferrer comes to the net but Monfils hits a lob winner Ferrer comes up with a backhand passing winner and he has set point which Monfils saves with a big serve Monfils wins the next 2 points to deny Ferrer and hold to make it 5 all.
Ferrer with a 30-15 lead but a backhand long by Ferrer its 30-30 Monfils tries a inside out forehand but misses wide and Ferrer has game point, Monfils denies Ferrer with a backhand winner its deuce, Ferrer with a overhead winner and he is a point away from 6-5 Ferrer holds and now Monfils will serve to stay in the set.
The war of attrition is going to a tiebreak – as per my prediction.
Monfils holds easily to force a tiebreak after 1 hour and 4 mins.
Monfils thinks he has a minibreak but hawk eye shows it was in 1-0 Ferrer Monfils wins the next point 1-1 but Ferrer with an astonishing shot gets the mini break Ferrer 2-1.
double fault by Ferrer and Monfils gets the mini break back, Ferrer goes for a drop shot but Monfils chases it down and wins the point he now has a mini break advantage.
a miss on the backhand by Monfils and its 3-3 as players change ends.
a double fault this time by Monfils and Ferrer has a mini break 4-3
a miss on the forehand by Monfils and Ferrer is 5-3 up Ferrer now moves ahead 6-3 and has 3 set points first 2 of them on the Monfilsd serve.
Monfils saves the first set point and the 2nd but Ferrer has a 3rd set point on his own serve and he converts to take the first set 7-6(5)
Classic Monf when he saved the first two set points, no?
And Daveed takes the TB. One down, one to go
this first set took 1 hour and 15 minutes.
bad news for Monfils
Touch and go if Monfils can last another set. Once the terrier has his teeth in he rarely lets go :-).
Monfils had so many bps in the first set, but he overcomes the disappointment of losing the first set and holds to love.
Monfils blasts a forehand winner to start the game but Ferrer just too consistent from the baseline forcing Monfils into errors Ferrer holds to 15.
Monfils holds again this time to 30 neither player has lost serve so far.