By means of major upsets highlighting the opening rounds within the 2013 Madrid Open, two-time tournament champion Rafael Nadal will face his toughest test on Friday within the quarterfinals when he squares from with compatriot David Ferrer.
Ferrer is not just the fourth-ranked men's tennis player in the world, but a clay-court physician who prefers the slower-playing surface area.
While the 26-year-old full of clay, Nadal has owned the head-to-head matchup while using the 31-year-old Ferrer over time, winning 19-of-23 matchups considering 2004, it's not always been easy.
Similar to Nadal, Ferrer plays a relentless style of tennis and routinely showcases his impressive fitness during a match, especially at clay, where the rallies tend to last much longer than elsewhere.
Ten of Ferrer's 20 ATP career singles titles attended on clay, including his current championship in Buenos Aires back February.
Plus, Ferrer is playing strong tennis getting into Friday's quarterfinal. He needed three sets to find past the age-defying Tommy Haas upon Thursday, but was excellent within the victory, winning 72 pct of his first-serve items and 45 percent associated with his second-serve return points.
Ferrer will need to get sensational during his second-serve go back points against Rafa to display the upset, but providing he continues to serve decisively, with pace and direction, he will be able to at least keep Nadal upon his heels half made the effort.
Consider this stat from Rafa's third-round enlighten Mikhail Youzhny on This: Nadal won 10-of-15 second-serve profit points (66 percent) nevertheless just 15-of-35 first-serve give back points (42 percent).
In the event that Rafa is firing concerning all cylinders again concerning Friday, Ferrer will likely must channel his inner Pete Sampras so as to knock out Nadal in straight sets. But it won't take anything Ferrer isn't capable of to ensure that him to win a predetermined and force Rafa to help break a sweat for the first time this week.
In addition from an improving serve, Ferrer possesses the ankle speed to chase down balls on the clay and to not available passing-shot attempts.
Despite his undersized 5'9" frame, Ferrer is normally content to outwork their opponents, opting to prevent the ball in play instead of attempt a premature safe bet. His persistent style from play will force Nadal to bring his A-game, as he'll have to move for you to beat his Davis Drink teammate.
It would be silly to predict Ferrer to help upend Nadal in This town on Friday, but there's certainly no doubt that the underrated Spaniard has the necessary weapons in this arsenal to push Rafa harder than anyone else has or will in Madrid this might.
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