Ferrer qualifies for ATP World Tour Finals
Originally published on: 13/10/11 10:11
David Ferrer has become the fifth player to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero to reach the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.
The 29-year-old Spaniard will feature at the 02 Arena for the second consecutive year – and for the third time at the year-end tournament – after a season that has seen him produce a career-best semi-final run at the Australian Open and match his fourth round best at Wimbledon.
“This is what I have been fighting for all year,” Ferrer told the ATP after his 1-6 7-5 6-2 victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero. “I’ve had a great season with a lot of wins and I can’t wait to return to London. It is such a great event and it is so special to be among the top 8 players once again. The atmosphere is incredible there.”
Meanwhile, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s hopes of cementing his place in the eight-man showpiece event were dealt a minor blow in Shanghai after the Frenchman lost 6-7(1) 6-4 6-4 to world No.47 Kei Nishikori.
The Japenese player’s scalp was his second win over a top 10 player in 11 attempts and ensured his career-best run at a Masters 1000 tournament, with a fourth round clash with Santiago Giraldo following on Thursday morning.
“Of course [I am] disappointed because I lost,” said Tsonga. “But today I had a good opponent. Even if maybe I didn’t play with a lot of energy, I played good tennis. Today my opponent was just better than me.”
Only 150 points separate the Frenchman, Tomas Berdych and Mardy Fish in the three remaining positions for the year-end event, but with Tsonga currently occupying eighth spot with well over 400 points more than Nicolas Almagro in ninth, he is confident of holding out for his place.
“I have more points than all my opponents [in the battle for the eighth spot] so, of course, for the moment I’m confident,” said Tsonga. “I will take some rest and then I will come back to qualify.”
Fish exited at the hands of Bernard Tomic in round two yesterday, but fellow contender Berdych fared well, beating Radek Stepanek 6-4 6-3 in 77 minutes.
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