Ferrer extends winning run to 11 at ATP Finals

LONDON - Spain’s David Ferrer extending his winning run to 11 matches with a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Juan Martin del Potro at the ATP Tour Finals on Tuesday.

Ferrer arrived at London’s O2 Arena in the best form of his life after winning his first ATP 1000 event, the highly regarded tournaments which are just one level down from a Grand Slam, at the Paris Masters on Sunday.

The 30-year-old’s triumph in Paris came a week after he won the Valencia Open and he walked onto court against del Potro with a Tour-best 72 match wins, as well as seven ATP titles, to his name over the last year.

Ferrer had to dig deep to maintain that fine form, but he was able to do just that as he subdued former U.S. Open champion del Potro in two hours and 16 minutes to secure a victory in his opening Group B match at the season-ending tournament.

“I am very happy. It was a top match,” Ferrer said. “It was very difficult to play against Juan Martin, but I hope the people enjoyed our tennis. “I don’t know the secret of my good form. It has been the best season of my career. Maybe it’s because I didn’t have a big injury.”

The world No. 5, who finished as Tour Finals runner-up in 2007, had demolished del Potro in straights sets in their last meeting at Wimbledon earlier this year, but he found it much tougher this time.

Making his first appearance in the Tour Finals since finishing as runner-up in 2009, del Potro wasted an early chance to take the initiative when he was unable to convert a break point in the third game.

And Ferrer made him pay as he landed the first break for a 3-1 lead after del Potro, cleverly manoeuvred out of position by the Spaniard, missed a backhand volley.

With the first set wrapped up with the minimum fuss, Ferrer tried to finish off del Potro early in the second, but the Argentine showed impressive grit.

AFP