David Ferrer beats Gilles Simon in 2nd rubber – Davis Cup 2011 WG Semi-final: ESP vs FRA
With Rafael Nadal handing over the flag to David Ferrer, it was up to the world No.5 to raise it higher. Playing the second rubber of the World Group semi-final of the Davis Cup 2011, Ferrer lodged on to play the French world no.11,
Gilles Simon, whereas Simon looked for a level up for team France. Playing at the Plaza de Toros de los Califas, Cordoba, Spain, Ferrer stormed the Frenchman 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in two hours and eight minutes and presented his team with the 2nd rubber
win.
Although the two have been quite competitive against each other, Simon has been unlucky in three out of four matches against the Spaniard on clay. The one match the two played on hard was won by the Frenchman. However, Simon again
fell in the hands of the world No.5 and fell short of weapons in his arsenal.
Walking down the classic red clay circuit, the fans cheered up the home player as the two took their positions and started off with the starter served up by the local lad. Serving out the first game, Ferrer switched the serve and
stood to return the Frenchman, 1-0.
With the game rallying on slow, Simon served game 4 and dropped short giving away a breakpoint to the Spaniard. With scores now at 3-1, the 29-year-old took the command and mustered the lower ranked pro in back-to-back 3 games,
including a breakpoint win in game 6, wining the set 6-1 and taking the lead in the rubber.
Continuing with the second set, Simon struggled and gave away an early breakpoint; however, he pulled the lead back to level as he broke back in game 2, 1-1. Levelling up on 3-3 further on in the set, Ferrer broke-lost-broke and
took the set scores to 5-4 and stood to serve next.
With the final game of the second set underway, Simon gave his best to break the world No.5; however, Ferrer saved a breakpoint and led to win the set 6-4. Extending his lead to 2-0 in the rubber, Ferrer looked onto an early win
as he stood to play the Frenchman.
Starting off with the first serve, Simon took away game 1 of the third set followed by a level up by the Spaniard winning game 2. Breaking the world No.11 for the first time in set 3, Ferrer took the lead and served next. With
mere fitness as his major weapon, Ferrer outfitted Simon winning back-to-back 4 games, breaking him twice and serving out twice.
Winning set 3, Ferrer bagged the rubber and gave his country a comfortable 2-0 lead over Team France. If the Team Spain wins the doubles as well, they would win the head-to-head for the 6th time and moreover the two
strong links of Team Spain would get sufficient rest for their next group fixtures.
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