ThrowbackTimes Miami: Roger Federer topples David Ferrer in an hour

After two dominant seasons in 2004 and 2005, Roger Federer had an even better one in 2006, winning 12 titles overall and dominating on hard courts from start to finish. Heading to Miami as the defending champion, Roger continued where he left in Doha, Australian Open and Indian Wells, defeating Arnaud Clement, Tommy Haas, Dmitry Tursunov and James Blake to hit the semi-final together with David Ferrer, David Nalbandian and Ivan Ljubicic. In the quest for the third Miami Open final, Roger stormed over David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 in precisely an hour, beating the Spaniard for the third time in as many encounters to advance into the title match. Federer lost 15 points in nine service games, fending off two out of three break chances and taking almost half of the return points to secure four breaks from five opportunities, controlling the pace with 25 winners and 15 unforced errors.

As the result suggest, the Swiss had the advantage in both the shortest and more extended rallies, moving the rival over the baseline and keeping the points on his racquet to earn another commanding victory in his best season in a career after a slow start of the second set. Federer held at 15 in the first game with a sharp forehand down the line winner, stealing Ferrer's serve in the next game and closing the third one with a winner at the net to race into a 3-0 advantage. Firing from all cylinders, Roger landed a forehand down the line winner for another break in game four and held to move 5-0 in front in no time at all, forcing David to serve for staying in the set. The Spaniard held at love to avoid a bagel before Federer placed a perfect drop shot in game seven for another comfortable hold and a 6-1.

Ferrer's only notable return game came at 1-0 in set number two, firing a forehand down the line winner to convert the third break chance and open his only advantage of the match. After a lot of troubles, David closed the third game to move 3-0 up, forcing Federer to raise his level a little bit in the remaining games if he wanted to secure the win in straight sets. Roger pulled the break back in game five after a backhand down the line winner, holding at 15 with a forehand winner in the next game to level the score at 3-3 and never looking back from that point. Ferrer lost serve for the second straight time in the seventh game following a double fault, sending Roger in front and allowing the Swiss to seal the deal with a hold at love thanks to service winner at 5-4 that pushed him into the final against Ivan Ljubicic.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Kf5pRo