Ferrer Bounced in Barcelona

April 23, 2014 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

A week after David Ferrer eliminated world number one Rafael Nadal from the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, the Spaniard bowed out of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell in the second round, losing to Teymuraz Gabashvili Wednesday, 6-4, 6-2.

It appeared as if Ferrer was on a collision course to meet up with his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the finals, but Gabashvili had other ideas. The Russian beat Ferrer in straight sets, and needed just 81 minutes to do so.

Gabashvili notched his third top 10 victory and exacted revenge on Ferrer who beat him a month ago down in Miami. He broke serve four times and salvaged seven of the eight break points he faced. Gabashvili had Ferrer running line to line as he pounded shots into the corner, and fatigue appeared to catch up with the fifth-seeded Spaniard who was unsuccessful in returning many of those drives.

“Nothing to say, he was better than me,” said Ferrer. “I had a great opportunity at 4-4 and 15-40 in the first set, but missed out on breaking him.”

It was the second straight year in which Ferrer lost to a Russian opponent at this stage in the event and did not play like the same player who ousted Nadal in Monte Carlo. Gabashvili now moves on to face the winner of Inigo Cervantes and Dmitry Tursunov, while Ferrer prepares for his next tournament, the Master 1000 event in Madrid.

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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