Ordina Open: Ferrer, Canas, del Potro, Gicquel Reach Semifinals
Top seed and World No. 5 David Ferrer advanced to his first career ATP semifinal on grass as he beat No. 6 seed and two-time Ordina Open champion Mario Ancic 6-4, 7-6(4) on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Spaniard converted the lone break in the fifth game of the opening set. He was one of six on break points while never losing serve in the one hour and 35-minute match. Ferrer won 59% of second serve points compared to the Croat's 42%.
"It was my best match in the torunament and Mario is very tough to play on grass," said Ferrer. "I played really well today and tomorrow will be another tought match against del Potro."
Ferrer will play in his third ATP semifinal this year against unseeded Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who reached his second career ATP semifinal, following a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory over two-time former finalist Arnaud Clement in two hours and three minutes.
The 19-year-old also beat Clement in Munich last month. Del Potro hit 13 aces and saved six of 10 break points. His last semifinal appearance came at Adelaide in January 2007 (l. to Guccione). Clement, the 2002 and 2003 runner-up, dropped to 4-9 on the season.
Seventh-seeded Argentine Guillermo Canas, who reached his lone ATP grass-court final seven years ago (l. to Hewitt), beat World No. 100, Viktor Troicki, a Serbian qualifier, 6-2, 6-2 in a rain-interrupted match. The 30-year-old Canas reached the Las Vegas semifinals (l. to eventual champion Querrey) in March. He has a 16-12 record on the season, while Troicki dropped to a 6-10 mark. His best career ATP showing came in Umag last July when he reached the semifinals (d. Djokovic in 2nd Rd., l. to Pavel).
Canas will next meet Frenchman Marc Gicquel, who avenged his 2006 Metz semifinal defeat to Jurgen Melzer. Gicquel defeating the 27-year-old Austrian 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 41 minutes. The 31-year-old, the oldest player remaining in the draw, appeared in his last ATP semifinal at Lyon in October 2007 (l. to Grosjean). He has made two quarterfinal exits at Estoril in April (l. to Davydenko) and Casablanca (l. to Canas) last month.
Article from www.atptennis.com
Photo © Getty Images
