Ferrer puts on a masterclass
David Ferrer rolled back the years with an outstanding 6-3 6-2 win over Chung Hyeon at the ASB Classic quarterfinals yesterday.
Although the 35-year-old Ferrer is in the twilight of his career, he remains on track for a recordbreaking fifth title in Auckland.
Chung had been playing superbly on his way to the quarterfinals, particularly in his three-set win over fourth seed John Isner on Wednesday night.
But Ferrer was a different kind of opponent altogether and it wasn’t just about being able to return big first serves.
Chung and Ferrer were both energetic around the court, chasing everything down, while ripping big winners.
Ferrer’s new game style is to keep the rallies shorter and it’s paying off for him as the veteran has looked considerably sharper than last year.
Ferrer was 4-0 up in the first, but the young Korean did manage to give the set a respectable scoreline.
Chung was 3-0 down in the second. He broke back, but was immediately broken again and the writing was on the wall for the rest of the match from that point.
Earlier, after last year’s late withdrawal, Roberto Bautista Agut appears to have picked up where he left off in 2016.
In a battle between two former Classic champions, Bautista Agut, who lifted the trophy two years ago, was far too good for 2015 winner Jiri Vesely, reaching his third semifinal in Auckland with a 7-6 6-2 victory.
Twelve months ago, a stomach virus prevented him from defending the title, but the stars have aligned nicely for the world No 21 this week.
With two of the top three seeds, reigning champion Jack Sock and Sam Querrey, bowing out on Wednesday, he certainly has an easier path to the final.
The fifth seed will meet Robin Haase in today’s semifinal after
the Dutchman saw off Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk, 6-4 6-4.
But it helps that he is playing some pretty handy tennis, too.
Bautista Agut has shown great variety in his game to drop just one set so far this week. His solid serve and consistency from the baseline has been complemented well with some sharp net play and perfectly-placed lobs.
It is rare for players to look past
their next match and Bautista Agut is no different.
But Stanley Street is starting to feel like a home away from home for the Spaniard, who is making his sixth appearance at the tournament.
‘‘I feel great playing on this court, with this crowd in these conditions,’’ he said. ‘‘I think the conditions are great for my tennis.’’
After a tight first set against Vesely, in which the players exchanged early breaks, Bautista Agut conceded just one point in the tiebreak to take the upper hand. While Vesely fired down six aces in the first set, he let himself down on second serve.
The Czech won just 31 per cent of those points and it eventually came back to haunt him, Bautista Agut capitalising in the tiebreak with several strong returns.
That seemed to break the spirit of Vesely.
Bautista Agut was a class above in the second set and always in control, wrapping up the match in 90 minutes.
‘‘He’s a difficult opponent. He’s a lefty and he plays with a very flat backhand. It was tough at the beginning to find the rhythm with the ball but then I finished the match playing very well,’’ Bautista Agut said.
‘‘I served very well in the second set. I tried to play very aggressive with my forehand and I did.’’
Haase, meanwhile, has flown under the radar this week to reach the semis for the first time in his seventh attempt.
The world No 43 needed three sets to get past qualifier Casper Ruud in the first round but has looked more comfortable in his last two matches.
In his first appearance on Centre Court this week, he shot out to a 3-0 first-set lead against Gojowczyk before taking the decisive break at 5-4 in the second.