Ferrero stops Nadal to reach Cincinnati sem-finals

By Bill Scott Aug 19, 2006, 1:52 GMT

Unseeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain hits a backhand to second seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarter-final match of the ATP Masters in Mason, Ohio Friday, 18 August 2006. EPA/Mark Lyons

Cincinnati - Juan Carlos Ferrero joined an elite list of Spaniards who have managed to topple the nation's star Rafael Nadal, earning a 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-3) win to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters Series on Friday.

Only former world number 1 Ferrero and fellow French Open champion Carlos Moya have beaten Nadal since the start of 2004.

Moya did it last March in the second round in Miami.

'For sure I didn't play the best match in my life, but I wasn't playing that badly,' said Nadal, who suffered only his seventh defeat this season.

'He played a good match, that's all. I'm playing better this week, I'm happy for that. I improved a lot from last week (when he lost in the third round to Tomas Berdych).

'Today I had my chances, but he played well in the important moments. I was poor in the first-set tiebreaker.'

The defeat left organizers short-changed in their hope of a dream final between Nadal and Swiss world number 1 rival Roger Federer, who crashed out in the second round courtesy of Scot Andy Murray.

Nadal's loss meant that for the first time since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open, a tournament where both Federer and Nadal were entered would not see one of them hoisting the trophy.

The pair had won 15 titles between then in that period.

'This result is important for me, mentally I'm very strong now,' said Ferrero. 'This is a special win against one of the best players in the world.

'I felt comfortable on the court, I was very calm. I fought hard all the time.'

Ferrero stayed calm through the two-hour, 19-minute contest, interrupted for 32 minutes by light rain late in the second set.

Ferrero move through from Nadal's 29th unforced error. The week's wear and tear on the usually energetic Nadal was evident in the first set, which lasted for more than an hour.

Nadal came boldly into the contest having beaten Ferrero four times during 2005, the last in Beijing 11 months ago.

But Ferrero, 2003 US Open finalist against Andy Roddick, bounced straight back a from an early break, returning the favour against the second seed before levelling at 3-3.

Nadal was all but gasping for breath after a particularly heated rally in the tenth game, which Ferrero with a well-placed backhand into the empty court, 5-5.

Ferrero dominated his flagging opponent in the tiebreaker, taking a 4-0 lead and calmly collecting the set on the first of four chances from Nadal's forehand wide.

The second set was interrupted with Ferrero up a set and leading 5-4. When the pair returned after 32 minutes, the youngsters served through stress to ensure another decider.

But Ferrero kept in control to ice the victory and improve his record this season to 26-17.

He will next play the winner from fourth seed Ivan Ljubicic and number 7 Tommy Robredo, one of three Spaniard in the quarters.

2003 winner Andy Roddick was taking on Murray while David Ferrer, the Spanish tenth seed, was playing Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.