Playing somewhere below his best level, Rafael Nadal still managed to beat David Ferrer to move on to the final of the Rome Masters, 7-6 (6) 6-0.
The first set — which lasted an hour and twenty-six minutes — was essentially their encounter in the Barcelona final redux. After his brilliant performance yesterday, Nadal looked flat and tentative and Ferrer came out aggressive and hungry, holding to 15 before racing to 0-40 on Nadal’s serve. As is typical of encounters between these two, Ferrer played his worst tennis when down break point and Nadal played his best, saving eight break points at 0-1 and 1-2 before Ferrer finally broke through to lead 3-1, going from corner to corner until he drew the error. As is also typical of these two, Ferrer was unable to capitalize, playing his worst and most passive tennis of the first set and failing to take advantage of Nadal’s short balls to give up two break points before double-faulting away the break.
Once back on serve, Ferrer resumed his fine play as if that particular negligent game had not happened, focusing primarily on breaking down Nadal’s backhand which was haemorrhaging errors (responsible for 15 out of the 20 unforced errors he made in the first set) and striking his off-forehand with impressive regularity and accuracy. As in Barcelona, the set went to a tie break but this time Ferrer leapt out to a mini-break lead immediately with a clean backhand return winner. Once again, leading in the score appeared to go to Ferrer’s head and at 3-1, he unconvincingly tried for a drop-shot that sank into the net. At 6-all, 6-6, Ferrer approached the net to Nadal’s forehand; Nadal's response dipped low over the net, earning a volley with enough air on it to chase down for a winner. Ferrer put a forehand long on the next point and Nadal took the set.
Ferrer never regrouped from the loss of the first set. He was broken immediately for 0-2 without Nadal having to do very much but stand there and watch him hit the ball out of the court, and although he seemed to wake up a little at 0-3, 0-40, saving six break points in a game that lasted nearly 12 minutes, he eventually succumbed to the double break. As Nadal tightened up his game, his unforced errors dropping from 20 to 6 in the second set — although a lot of that could be attributed to the fact that Ferrer was ending the points by missing before Nadal had the opportunity to — Ferrer’s fell apart completely and the eventual end of the match after one more error from Ferrer felt like a relief from what had become a joyless affair on both sides.
Nadal moves on to face defending champion Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in tomorrow’s final with plenty of energy — and competitive intensity — in reserve after today’s subdued performance, but as is often the case, it’s hard not to feel for Ferrer who still paused to sign autographs as he left the court, now 4-15 against his compatriot.