BY AGENCY REPORTER David Ferrer advanced to his tenth successive grand slam quarter-final as he beat Kevin Anderson in four sets at Roland Garros on Monday, AP reports.
The Spaniard overcame the loss of a third-set tie-break to complete a 6-3 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 victory and will next face compatriot Rafael Nadal in what is a repeat of last year’s final.
Ferrer beat Anderson in Paris at the same stage 12 months ago, losing just five games in the process, but the South African equipped himself better this time around. Despite that it was Ferrer who eased two sets ahead, breaking his rival three times in the first and once in the second as he dominated from the baseline.
Anderson got a foothold when he broke first in the third to lead 3-1, although Ferrer responded immediately to get himself back on terms.
The set went to a tie-break and, having earned himself a mini-break, Anderson would take it when Ferrer netted a forehand on the run.
But the South African’s joy was short-lived as Ferrer moved up a gear, securing successive breaks as he raced out into a 5-0 lead in the fourth.
Anderson did hold to avoid the ignominy of a ‘bagel’, but it was a temporary reprieve as Ferrer served out to confirm victory, an accurate forehand winner down the line getting the job done.
Nadal barely had to get out of second gear to record a supremely comfortable 6-1 6-2 6-1 success over Serbia’s Dusan Lajovic.
The top seed, chasing a ninth title at Roland Garros, overwhelmed his opponent from the back of the court, Lajovic not helping his cause as he coughed up 43 unforced errors.
The Serb did secure his only break of the match in the penultimate game of the contest, but Nadal responded in kind, breaking to love in the next to seal victory in a little over an hour and a half.
