2011 Heineken Open: Spaniards David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro sail into the semis
With only days left in the prestigious Australian Open, the latest instalment of the Australian Open Series, the 2011 Heineken Open is currently in its final stages. Entering its fourth day at Auckland on Thursday, the event saw the top two seeds moving
into the semis.
First up was the only top 10 player at the event, Spaniard David Ferrer. Seeded first in the event, Ferrer had received an automatic bye into the second round where he met Tobias Kamke. Bouncing back from being one set down, Ferrer served seven aces and
lost only thirty five of one hundred and three points (35 of 103) on service to prevail 3-6, 7-6(1), 6-4.
Kicking off his 2011 season at this event, Ferrer had come in with hopes of a title win. And it seems the Spaniard is on the right path. Entering the quarterfinal, Ferrer was pitted against world number thirty four (34) and top German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Kohlschreiber had won the title here in 2008. Meeting the eighth seeded German for the ninth time on the ATP Tour, the 5-3 lead in the career head to head played to the Spaniard’s advantage. Coupled with the disparity in the rankings, Ferrer was clearly The
Fates’ choice to win the match.
Opening serve in the first set, Ferrer dominated the court and rushed into the lead. Maintaining his edge over the German, Ferrer clinched the first set 6-3. However, coming into the second set Kohlschreiber caught up with Ferrer following closely at his
heels. Keeping the score tied at all times, Kohlschreiber succeeded in pushing the set into a tiebreaker which he eventually won after much battle between the two. Clinching the tiebreaker 7-4, Kohlschreiber levelled the set score 1-1 between the two players
taking the match into the decider. Regaining his lost form in the decider, Ferrer once again dominated the court and ultimately sealed his victory with a 6-3 score in the decider.
In a match that lasted for almost two hours, Ferrer struck five aces and lost 43 of 123 points on service to secure a spot for himself in the semis. Ferrer moves on to face either Santiago Giraldo or Thomaz Bellucci.
Joining Ferrer in the semis is his compatriot and second seed, Nicolas Almagro. Playing at his first event of 2011, Almagro had received a wildcard into the event. Like Ferrer, Almagro also received an automatic bye into the second round where he met and
defeated Victor Hanescu.
Moving past Hanescu, Almagro setup a quarterfinal clash with rising qualifier Adrian Mannarino. Meeting Mannarino for the first time on the ATP courts, Almagro succeeded in going 1-0 in the head to head after a hard fought battle with the French. Going neck
to neck in the first set, Mannarino was successful in pushing it to a tiebreaker. However, the French failed to win it, losing 3-7. Following suit in the second set, Mannarino was able to take the set into another tiebreaker. Though this time around, Mannarino
was successful in winning the tiebreaker 7-1. Entering in the decider, Almagro regained his form and decided this was all the leeway he would allow the French. Rushing into the lead, Almagro dominated the court and was able to secure a 6-2 victory in the decider.
Serving eleven aces, committing only two double faults and losing nineteen of eighty seven (19 of 87) points on service, Almagro was able to secure a 2-1 set victory in almost two hours. Moving into the semis, Almagro now plays sixth seed David Nalbandian.
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