Page 21 - ATD21NOV2015

SPORTS A21
Saturday 21 November 2015

Nadal outlasts Ferrer to stay unbeaten at ATP finals

Serb No. 1 had the day eventually converted his finally converting his third
off. But Nadal is more con- fifth break point to force game point.
cerned with maintaining the tiebreaker. That game seemed to take
his late-season resurgence In the second set, Nadal its toll on both players and
after struggling for most of broke for 5-3 and served neither had another break
the year. it out at love to even the point until Ferrer netted a
“For me it was another match. The third then be- backhand at 4-4 and Nad-
opportunity to compete. gan with the best game of al then hit a forehand win-
I think I competed well. I the match, which lasted ner down the line to take
won a very tough match,” nearly 14 minutes and 200 the lead for good.
Nadal said. “Three straight shots — including some “Rafael in the third set, he
wins against top-eight spectacular winners from improved his game,” Ferrer
players, that’s great news both players. Ferrer saved said. “It was close, but he
for me. ... That’s a positive five break points before was better.”q
way to finish the season.
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to David Ferrer of Spain singles Let’s see tomorrow what’s
tennis match at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in going to happen.”
London, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Later Friday, Andy Mur-
ray plays Stan Wawrinka
Associated Press with the winner earning a
semifinal against Roger Fe-
MATTIAS KAREN match full of heavy hitting derer. Ferrer lost his first two
AP Sports Writer and long rallies. group matches to fall out
of contention and looked
LONDON (AP) — Rafael Nadal earned the decisive ready for a holiday when
he dropped his first two
Nadal outlasted David Fer- break to go up 5-4 in the service games to hand
rer 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 Friday to third set — having previ- Nadal a 3-0 lead in the first
finish the group stage un- ously wasted five break set. But Ferrer responded
beaten at the ATP World points in a marathon first by winning the next four
games, only to be broken
Tour Finals. game of the decider — again for 6-5 and give his
fellow Spaniard a chance
Neither player had much and sealed victory with a to serve out the set. How-
at stake as Nadal had al- backhand volley winner. ever, Nadal missed a set
ready clinched first place Nadal faces Novak point after rallying from
in the group and Ferrer Djokovic in the semifinals 0-40 down and Ferrer

had been eliminated, but Saturday, and this kind of
the two baseline sluggers grueling encounter prob-
still went at it relentlessly for ably wasn’t the best prep-
more than 2 ½ hours in a aration — especially as the