VIENNA, October 28, 2016
Reigning Erste Bank Open 500 champion David Ferrer was the winner of the day, saving one match point to emerge victorious from a topsy-turvy semi-final encounter against Viktor Troicki 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
The Spanish veteran was in control of the match until the fourth game of the second set, when the Serbian number two, broke serve for a 3-1 lead. Troicki was also a break up in the final set but couldn’t serve the match out in the 10th game. Ferrer fought back and eventually converted his third match point after two hours and 32 minutes to reach his third consecutive semi-final in Vienna.
“Tonight was a very tough match. I was close to lose the match but I am happy to win and to reach the semis again,” Ferrer told after enjoying a fantastic atmosphere on Centre Court.
“I really liked it today on the court. It was very nice. I hope that the crowd enjoyed the game.”
Ferrer seemed to struggle a bit with his physical conditions but he is confident being fit for another match on Saturday.
“I just have some problems in my left leg. I was cramping today in the first set but I hope to recover quickly and I will be ready for tomorrow. It is not anything serious but I am still a bit tired at this stage of the season, which is normal.”
Ferrer also spoke about the current and future situation of men’s tennis in Spain, stating that a player like Rafael Nadal is and will remain unique. Here are his thoughts (in Spanish).
Murray Beats Isner
Ferrer will next take on the tournament’s number one Andy Murray in a re-match of the 2014 Vienna final. The 29-year-old Scot eased past US-American John Isner, winning 6-1, 6-3. Murray saved all of the three break points he faced, converting four of his own to secure victory in 74 minutes.
Andy Murray (photo: e-motion/Bildagentur Zolles KG/Christian Hofer)
“From the back of the court, he wasn’t really generating much power with his forehand, so I was able to dictate most of the points from the baseline and made him moving.
I returned pretty good, especially at the beginning of the match. So I put a bit of pressure on him. When I got ahead, he was struggling and it also relaxed me a bit,” Murray analyzed after getting his seventh win over Isner in as many meetings between the two.
“We have had excellent crowds during the entire week. It shows that the organizers are obviously doing a good job and that tennis is very popular here in Austria. That so many people come to watch in the early stage of the tournament is great.”
Murray will next take on Ferrer, who is 6-14 against the Brit in their head-to-head rivalry.
“It’s going to be a hard match, like always, as we have had played many times. He obviously likes the conditions, as he played well here in the past. You need to play well against him, otherwise you are going to lose because his level is always very steady.”
