Ferrer Defeats Murray to Join Nadal, Djokovic and Federer as French Open Semifinalists

The men’s and women’s quarterfinal matches were completed today on Day 11 of the 2012 French Open as the field was further narrowed and the semifinals on each side of the draw began to take shape. World number four-ranked Andy Murray tried to secure his spot in the semifinals along with the other top seeds Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but it was David Ferrer’s relentless clay court play that prevented Murray from doing so. After dropping the opening set and getting down a break in the second, it seemed that Ferrer had the match in his grasp. Murray fought back to win the second set in a tie-breaker to even the score. After a periodic rain delay, the players went back at it, and it was Ferrer who was the first to break in the third set and even since that game as Murray’s frustration seemed to be building. Ferrer finally finished off Murray and secured the win in four sets, 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 and secure a spot in the semis.

"I thought I played some good tennis tonight," said Murray. "I just didn’t convert. I mean, I had a lot of chances in the last couple of sets on his serve and I lost a lot of really long games on my serve, which didn’t help. He is so solid, so consistent, that if you’re not converting your opportunities, it turns to many long games and then the pressure can build on your serve. He obviously broke me a lot times (six) the last couple of sets." 

First up on the women’s side today was Maria Sharapova facing Kaia Kanepi of Estonia. Kanepi defeated prior world number one Caroline Wozniacki on her road to the quarters, however, she was not able to perform another upset against the second-seeded Sharapova. Sharapova played in true “Maria” fashion, swinging for her shots and trying to win the points as quickly as possible. She overpowered Kanepi for a 6-2, 6-3 victory. After getting down 0-3 in the opening set, it seemed as if Yaroslava Shvedova was going to upset the number four seed Petra Kvitova in the other quarterfinals matchup. In a similar fashion as Sharapova, Kvitova was able to outplay her opponent in the second and third set before winning 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

After the women’s matches were complete, world number two Rafael Nadal of Spain didn’t seem to struggle at all with fellow countryman, Nicolas Almagro. The conditions were a bit slower due to the cooler weather and on and off spouts of rain, conditions that may have favored Nadal, but either way, Rafa came out on top with a straight-set victory, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3. Nadal has yet to drop a set the entire tournament, and improved his all-time mark at Roland Garros to an amazing 50-1.

Tomorrow, the women’s semifinals will be up first, as 2011 U.S. Open Champ Samantha Stosur of Australia will face Sara Errani of Italy, and Sharapova will face Kvitova. All four women have never won the French Open title.