David Ferrer breezes past Richard Gasquet to reach quarters – US Open 2012
World number five, David Ferrer, got the better of the French star, Richard Gasquet, in straight sets at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows. He jolted down a 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-4 success against the 13th seed to cruise into the quarters at this major hard court event taking place in Queens, New York City on Tuesday.
Ferrer became the first Spaniard after Rafael Nadal to reach final eight at all four Grand Slam events in a calendar year with this victory. He needed almost three hours to overpower the lower seed for the third straight time this season. As a result, the Spaniard improved to an 8-1 record in the FedEx ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Head 2 Head Series against Gasquet at this last Grand Slam event of the circuit.
The Spanish veteran commented in a post match press conference:
“I'm very happy for that. This season was the best of all my career. I'm playing consistent all the year. I think I have luck in important moments because I was tonight set points down in the second set,” said Ferrer. “The first round with [Kevin] Anderson I was also three set points down. With [Igor] Sijsling in the second round also the same. So I think in important moments I played good, but of course I had luck.”
The Spanish number two made a convincing entry at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He drew the first blood in the opening game but squandered his lead in the very next game. Ferrer got the upper hand again after breaking his opponent’s serve in the fifth game but levelled the scores again at 4-4. However, the Spaniard got the breakthrough in the 11th game and clocked the opener with a 7-5 success.
Seeded fourth in this event, Ferrer lost his path towards the following set and suffered the first blow in the sixth game to fall at 2-5. However, he remained focused and not only recovered in the ninth game but dominated in the tie-breaker to seal the set with a 7-6(2) win.
Ferrer maintained consistency in his game in the third set and swiftly bagged his entire serves after blocking the lone breakpoint he faced. The Spaniard cashed in one out of six break opportunities in the last game and clinched the set with a 6-4 score line.
Next up for Ferrer is the winner of the match between eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic and the German number one, Philipp Kohlschreiber. The Serb was leading 5-2 when the match got suspended due to rain.
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