Stan Wawrinka will be looking to bounce back from a dreadful performance against Rafael Nadal when he takes the court at the World Tour Finals again on Wednesday. Up next for Wawrinka in round-robin action is David Ferrer.
Stan Wawrinka and David Ferrer will be meeting for the 14th time in their careers when they resume their World Tour Finals campaigns on Wednesday night.
The head-to-head series stands at 7-6 in favor of Ferrer, but Wawrinka has won three of their four previous hard-court encounters–including two of three indoors. They have faced each other once at the World Tour Finals, where Wawrinka got the best of a round-robin showdown 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1. The two veterans have collided only once since then–more than a year ago on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where the Swiss cruised 6-1, 7-6(3).
Both men are in dire need of a victory after losing their O2 openers in straight sets. Ferrer at least managed to be somewhat competitive against Andy Murray but the Spaniard’s serve let him down in a 6-4, 6-4 loss. Wawrinka started his match by breaking Rafael Nadal only to go off the rails immediately thereafter. The world No. 4 got broken right back at love, never recovered, and ultimately succumbed 6-3, 6-2.
In his first World Tour Finals match since losing a controversial semifinal thriller to Roger Federer last year, Wawrinka never looked comfortable.
“I was bothered with everything,” he explained. ” I wasn’t there. Just everything went the wrong way. Was just a really bad day at the office.”
Ferrer’s problems are fewer, more easily identified, and may be more correctable. The Spaniard served at a horrendous 49 percent against Murray while double-faulting eight times without striking a single ace. Afterward he mentioned that the struggles came out of nowhere.
“I was serving good the last two months,” Ferrer reflected. “I am happy with my serve (in general). It’s only one match.”
Although Wawrinka is capable of hitting through this surface despite its lack of speed, he certainly did not do that against Nadal and looked frustrated with the conditions. Barring a drastic turnaround in the mental department for the reigning French Open champion, this is a good opportunity for a relatively in-form Ferrer.
Pick: Ferrer in 3
[polldaddy poll=9183826]
I go for Wawa in 3…I bet Wawa will play well all of the sudden…I wonder what will so called experts have to say then…will they admit that Wawa was fair and square beaten by Rafa or they will continue with the story of Wawa being “uninterested and disrespectful towards the crowd”…funny, Wawa brought his whole family to London to watch him play and support him and is being accused of “not trying to win the match”…strange it is…
He started wanting to win the match but gave up early in the second set.
At least you admit it was Rafa’s good tennis that made him win the first set. This sure is a step forward 😉
And why do you think Wawa behaved the way he did? Could it be that he in fact could not find the answers for Rafa’s game and just gave up?
little by little we will come to an agreement on this one… 🙂
No, I just said Wawrinka was trying in the first set. Well I just hope that you not comparing “trying” with “playing well”. Don’t you? Or do you.
Rafa played well enough to beat a mediocre Wawrinka who has the worst career indoor record of the Top 8.
Don’t forget, both guys were broken at love to start the match. The first nine points went to the receiver.
Not a high quality match by any standard, nor was the last indoor match in Paris.
At least you admit he in fact could not find the answers for Rafa’s game and just gave up. 🙂
I haven’t changed my view but you’re coming around little by little. 🙂
little by little you will be back on the right track…
however, I got used to your lousy predictions when Rafa is concerned…so just keep up whatever you are doing…it seems to work… 🙂
I have changed nothing but you say that Murray just gave up.
Shows progress.
Rafa played very well.
On the lousy pick, you’re welcome. Happy to oblige. Ricky should have stayed with his original pick.
#AntiJinxings
hawkeye,
You are correct. Stan making 35 UE’s in 2 sets speaks for itself!
Stan found he was out of his depth against Rafa in that match.
Good comment Natasha. Experts or so called.. Really? Stanimal should win v Ferrer but who knows. On any day most of them can beat each other. Who thought Federer would crush Djokovic? Birdman losing to Special K? Unbelievable result too. Stan serves better but Ferrer runs all day & the court is slow. I’ll go Stan for the win with not a lot of confidence
One more thing – Stan’s serve stats in his match with Rafa. They were dreadful. Winning only 38% of second serve points? As I said previously, the serve is the one shot that a player is in control of, so Stan’s poor serve stats are factual proof that he wasn’t playing well.
Again, that takes nothing away from the fact that Rafa did play very well in the match. Both can be true!
I think Stan/Ferrer will go 3 sets, but I am not sure who is going to prevail. I will say that if Stan goes walkabout like he did in late in the first set and in the second set against Rafa, then Ferrer will win. I would normally pick Stan without much thinking about it, but he’s just not looked that great recently. However, he could come out and play the way he is capable of playing. We know that Ferrer will run everything down and make him earn it. Ferrer never gives up.
I will go with Ferrer in 3 sets.
Kei, federer, nadal three upsets so far lets make it 4 in a row vamos Ferrer $$$
Singles Group Ilie Nastase qualification scenarios:
R. NADAL qualifies for SF on Wednesday if:
– R. NADAL defeats A. MURRAY and S. WAWRINKA defeats D. FERRER.
– R. NADAL defeats A. MURRAY in 2 sets and D. FERRER defeats S. WAWRINKA in 3 sets.
[Source: ATP]
To make it easier, Nadal will qualify if Ferrer wins today at least one set against Wawrinka.
so if it goes 3 nadal will qualify
Stan is already throwing his toys out of his pram and the first set is only midway. He trails 1:4.
Ferrer has started out strong and Stan looks like he’s not in the mood. Stan missed his chance to break back and even it up.
They posted a stat showing that Stan had 9 UE’s in just the first four games. I hope he decides to put in some effort for this match.
Finally Stan capitalizes on a poor game from Ferrer to break back.
Stan is playing erratically, Either poorly or very good. Daveed is going to be scuppered by his serve. Will be very surprised if he manages to take a set off Stan.
The die is cast. WaWa serving for the set.
Lo and behold he has the first set.
That’s it. Stan wins the first set and on the tennis channel they said Rafa makes the semis!
Nadal semis
I went with Ferrer, but his serving has not been up to snuff. It is true that Stan has been up and down and all over the place. He was that way when he played Rafa.
The way it started out, I thought for sure Ferrer was going to win that first set.
Waw got the job done – Rafa has qualified for the semi-finals!
Now it’s Ferru’s turn to do his job – to win the match!
^^^In your dreams Gussie. Sadly, no way.
YAY! Rafa is in the semis! 🙂
It’s not for nothing he ranks as the best player not to have a slam. In fact he has only the one Masters. Gather Rafa and Roger are through to the SF.
Is Fed Through?
Yep, Fed is through.
When I say Rafa’s back, I mean it. 2015 was an off year for him. He’s righted the ship, as I thought he would – even sooner than expected. Happy he’s into the semi’s!
Have been following scores for this match only. Happy to see my pick got a set. Is Stan being da man? Better serving stats than in the Rafa/Murray match, I see.
Ferrer has gone off the deep end
Thanks, Ricky. I’m looking at my TV now. Poor Ferrer, thought for sure he was winning that set.
Give me strength. Koenig and Knowitall are in overdrive – they have climbed onto the WaWa bandwagon with a vengeance.
ed, I’d be happy to have Koenig for any match over what I usually have here in the US. Haber drives me nuts he hypes and talks so much. Paul Annacone is on today which is nice, though.
I do enjoy Annacone. He’s one guy who can be pretty objective and all about the tennis. Jim Courier is driving me nuts because he won’t shut up! He microanalyzes every single thing in a match. Haber can be a bit dramatic.
Haber isn’t quite as bad here as when he’s in the US and it’s a ‘Merican playing. Courier never shuts up. Maybe these guys feel obligated to talk non-stop and fans need it.
You wouldn’t if you had to listen to them as much as I do. I try to tune them out as much as I can to no avail. Koenig is acceptable as long as he’s not paired with Jason Knowitall but the two of them together drive me to distraction.
Oh yes, Goodall with Koenig. I do know what you mean. Sometimes Tennis Channel will treat us to them if the broadcast is from Europe early in the morning. Yet, it’s still an improvement – could be they chat as much but at least it’s not the same anecdotes about the same player over and over – that’s Haber’s specialty. The torture.
––it’s not the same anecdotes about the same player over and over–
I don’t know Haber but we had the identical spiel for Wawrinka as the other night. So much so I thought they must be reading from a prompt board!
I’ll shut up now – I’m aware I can be boring on the subject once I get started. Besides it’s fiendishly difficult do and all too easy to be critical.
Ferrer failed to capitalise when Stan was sulking after he was broken in the first set. Ferrer was pushing too hard making UEs at key points.
Who’d have guessed that by Wednesday Nadal would have qualified and Nole would still be waiting.
What significance does a straight set win by WaWa have?
Whoever wins between him and Murray goes through to the SF.
Ah,ha Verrrrry interesting