BARCELONA, 23 April 2005 — Juan Carlos Ferrero’s revival continued with an enthralling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Argentine Gaston Gaudio to reach the Barcelona Open semifinals yesterday.
Fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal also moved into the last four of the 850,000 euro ($1.11 million) claycourt tournament when Agustin Calleri retired with back problems after losing the first set 6-2 and trailing 3-0 in the second. The 18-year-old, who became the youngest winner of a Master Series tournament in 15 years with last week’s victory in Monte Carlo, proved too powerful for the Argentine who was suffering the after-effects of three exhausting matches.
“I’m delighted with the way I’m playing at the moment,” said Nadal, who enjoyed back-to-back claycourt victories in Brazil and Mexico this year. “I’ve had an incredible two months and just hope I can now continue that by reaching the final here.”
Nadal faces Radek Stepanek in the semis. The Czech ended Swiss qualifier Stanislav Wawrinka’s fine run when he came from a set down to win 3-6 6-3 6-2.
Ferrero showed he is recovering the form that made him the 2003 French Open champion with a superb display of claycourt tennis against the second-seeded Argentine, who won the title at Roland Garros last year.
The former world No. 1 edged an evenly balanced first set after earning a break point in the 10th game with a delicate drop volley and finished off with a clever crosscourt winner.
Gaudio, the only one of the top six seeds to reach the quarter-finals, fought back to claim a 4-0 lead in the second set and although Ferrero pulled it back to 5-4 he wrapped up with a confident service game.
Neither player gave any quarter in the third set, trading powerful ground strokes during several lengthy rallies.
Agassi Given Tough Battle Before Advancing in Houston
In Houston, Andre Agassi rallied from a set down to edge out Spain’s Alex Calatrava 3-6 6-4 7-5 and advance to the quarterfinals of the US Men’s Clay Court Championships on Thursday.
The second seeded Agassi was forced to draw on his vast experience when his opponent recovered from a break down in the deciding set to draw level at 4-4.
The American held in the ninth game and wasted a match point in the next before finally securing the victory with a backhand winner down the line two games later.
“I threw up a couple of double faults at a bad time, leading 4-2,” Agassi said. “I got too aggressive.”
The 34-year-old admitted that he had lost focus at a vital time.
Agassi next faces Sebastien Grosjean for a place in the last four after the Frenchman overcame Oscar Hernandez of Spain 6-4 5-7 6-2. The sixth seed will represent Agassi’s toughest test to date at this event.
“He’s (Grosjean) a talented player, he’s effective on clay. I’ll definitely have to be executing my shots and playing good,” the American said.
In Friday’s other quarterfinals, defending champion Tommy Haas of Germany will play Jurgen Melzer of Austria, top-seeded American Andy Roddick will meet Luis Horna of Peru, while James Blake lines up against Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.
On Thursday, American Blake fell behind 2-4 in the opening set and then won 10 of 11 games to brush aside Antony Dupuis of France 6-4 6-1.
“It’s amazing what happens when you stop making errors,” Blake said.
“I didn’t feel I was out of it at 4-2. I think he got down on himself a little at the start of the second set and that helped me.” Lapentti advanced with a 7-6 6-2 victory over Kevin Kim of the U.S.
