Shanghai continued to produce big tennis upsets yesterday after
another pair of top seeds, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, were
stunned at the Shanghai Masters Cup at Qi Zhong Tennis Center.
Spain's David Ferrer
jubilates during the men's singles at the ATP Masters Cup in
Shanghai, east China, November 13, 2007. David Ferrer defeated his
compatriot Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
World No 2 Nadal was overcome by his Spanish compatriot David
Ferrer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in a grueling Gold Group match, while No 3
Djokovic was upset by French young gun Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2 in
another group match.
Now all four of the world's top players have been dealt losses -
Swiss world No 1 Roger Federer lost to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez
and Russian Nikolay Davydenko, the world No 4, was beaten by Andy
Roddick on Monday.
Ferrer, a US Open semifinalist, surprisingly earned the first
berth into the Masters semifinals with his second victory of the
tournament. He beat Djokovic in straight sets on Sunday.
On the other side of the ladder, popular Serb star Djokovic
ended up being the first player to bid farewell to the year-end
tournament after he suffered his second loss of the tournament at
the hands of Gasquet.
In a two-hour-and-forty-minute marathon, Nadal faced his close
friend Ferrer.
There were no secrets between the Spaniards, who both showed a
tough mindset and a long-rally ability. They seesawed in the first
set, but Nadal broke one more time than Ferrer to close the first
set at 6-4.
It was an opposite story in the second set as Ferrer broke Nadal
twice in the eighth and 10th game but Nadal only managed one in the
ninth to level his opponent at 1-1.
A mid break in the fourth game of the decider left Ferrer on the
upper hand at 3-1. Nadal tried every trick to get close, but the
French Open champion was unable to stop the dynamic Ferrer from
claiming victory.
"I am very confident and I don't have a lot of pressure," said
Ferrer who is playing in his first Masters Cup. "I tried my best
and really well."
Finishing his best season this year with three titles and a
personal best No 6 ranking, Ferrer still thinks Nadal is a better
player.
"It is just one match and Rafael is better than me."
Rafael Nadal of Spain
serves to compatriot David Ferrer during the Masters Cup tennis
tournament in Shanghai Nov. 13, 2007.
There was little for Nadal to complain about in losing to his
more motivated rival, probably the best returner on the tour.
"He played unbelievable and moved unbelievable. It's a crazy
game," Nadal said.
"I played well but he played better," he said. "It's
disappointing for me and it was a very close match," Nadal
said.
Nadal warned that those top seeds, himself included, were still
not out despite suffering painful losses over the first two
days.
"We have these rankings as a result of the whole year. In one
match playing against the world's best players, anything can
happen."
Djokovic out
But Djokovic won't have any sort of comeback opportunity.
The young and inexperienced Serb admitted he fell victim to an
over-stretched schedule with overbearing expectations that left him
in tatters by the end of the season.
Richard Gasquet of France
plays a forehand against Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the men's
singles competition at the ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai, east China,
November 13, 2007. Richard Gasquet won the match 6-4,
6-2.
"It all came up in the end unfortunately in the negative way for
me because I have played a lot this year," he said. "I didn't get
the right preparation at the right time.
"We are trying to appear and attend all the tournaments and try
to go far. But sometimes it's not possible and sometimes you have
to push yourself over the limits."
Serbia's Novak Djokovic
returns the ball against Richard Gasquet of France during the men's
singles competition at the ATP Masters Cup in Shanghai, east China,
Nov. 13, 2007.
Djokovic was the hardest-working player on the tour, playing an
arduous 84 matches before going to Shanghai, the most among the
eight.
The little-rested Serb said it was not a smart schedule, was too
demanding and needs to be improved next season.
"It was not planned so well, you know, I have a lot of
exhausting events," he said.
"It has a bad impact on my game here, the fact that I played a
hundred matches, I think, altogether."
(China Daily November 14, 2007)
