Ferrer starts off with a double fault.

Dismal game from the spaniard and Federer breaks first game.

1-0.

Kind of a superfluous thread, if you ask me. The match will be over practically before the full stop at the end of this sentence. :rolleyes:

Unlike Ferrero, who drew a strong performance from Federer, the only thing the No 1 has to do here is keep the ball in the court. Ferrer started with two DFs and got just one first serve into play. He's already at something like 7 or 8 UEs.

That said, the Spaniard did well to get to deuce from 0-40, and there is finally a quality rally which Federer wins at net. Ferrer saves a fourth break point in the game with a nice backhand winner. Deuce again.

Strange. Federer seems to be hitting with some heavy spin on his forehand. Almost Nadal-esque.

Nice volley from Ferrer and an overenthusiastic forehand long from Federer and it's 2-1. The Spaniard saves himself from a second whitewash set in a row.

These are the kind of missed opportunities that have hurt Federer against Canas and Nadal at Miami & MC.

Ferrer has stepped it up a notch. I have a feeling this match will be close.

Funny how Federer seems to play Ferrer and Ferrero in successive matches these days - that's what happened at Monte Carlo! Both matches are a commentator's dream!

Ferrer holds his ground.
3-2 Fed still a break up.

Straightforward hold to 15 from Federer. Ferrer nearly gets himself into trouble with a third DF for 30-all, but holds. 3-2 with just the one break of serve yet.

Ferrer gets his first look at Federer's serve at 30-40, and just barely misses a forehand down the line that would have given him the break back. Federer serves his way out of trouble to lead 4-2.

He'll break here and serve it out I reckon.

ferrer misses a golden chance to break.
a bit of O2 starvation there ;)

Nice confident hold from the Spaniard. Makes you wonder where he'd be if he hadn't gifted that early break.

Have to say Federer isn't looking too sharp. Finding the lines only every other point and he just dumped a makeable volley into the net. Still hitting enough winners to keep Ferrer at bay, however.

Ferrer almost a different player when returning. Can't seem to take openings without an UE. Federer holds to 15 for 5-3.

First set 6-3.
I'm off to work. good day all.

Federer winners + Ferrer UEs = breaks to 15 for the set 6-3 in just over 30 minutes.

Ferrer breaks to 15 with a classy return winner. Unfortunately he's two games too late with the service break. Federer has already made more UEs than the entire match against Ferrero, and had the classic letdown at the start of the second set.

Ferrer serves to consolidate at 1-0.

Federer calmly breaks to 15 in return before Ferrer can so much as pump his fist. 1-all.

Ferrer loses the plot with a needless string of errors that see Federer go up a break 3-1. It's all over but the crying.

Federer throws in his own loose service game abruptly and is broken to 30. 3-2 now but no real sense of a fightback.

Is Federer playing very well, or Ferrer badly? Or a mixture of both?

Apologies for all the questions-so frustrating not being able to watch!

Yet another break of serve and Federer goes up 4-2.

Federer is playing rather sloppier than yesterday but I suspect because he doesn't feel threatened. He's also bringing enough of his top game to keep the Spaniard at arm's length. Still his serving has dropped drastically this set ... I think his 1st serve % is hovering in the upper 30s low 40s.

Federer lets out a frustrated yell abruptly after an error, suggesting he thinks he should be off court already. He misses his next forehand by a wide margin and gives Ferrer the break back. 4-3.

The second set is shades of the Murray match in Cincinnati with all the loopy breaks of serve, complete with the uncharacteristic show of emotion. Still not anywhere near in danger though.

Ferrer looks uncertain but more than glad to have been given a new lease on life. He has an easy hold to 15 punctuated with an ace, with Federer looking rather sluggish on return suddenly.

Updates much appreciated

The stream of UEs keep coming from Federer, including a questionable attempt to serve and volley, and at 30-40 there is an enthralling rally in which Ferrer comes up with some aggressive shots to notch the break. The Spaniard will serve for the set 5-4.

Ferrer now serving for the set at 5-4 up

Ferrer gets some free service winners for triple set point.

So then he throws in a double. 40-15.

As I said earlier. These are the missed chances to close out matches that are killing Federer this year.

He led 4-2 and now Ferrer to poised to take a set of Federer for the first time.

Federer hits his umpteenth forehand long, and Ferrer lets out a roar as he takes his first ever set off of the No 1 in some six meetings. The match is level 3-6, 6-4.

I have no idea what's going on out there.

Very poor service games from Roger in that second set. He had it in the bag, ffs. :angry:

Let's hope it was just his usual 'second-set blip', and he'll be back on top in the third. However, he can't afford these loose service games if he is going to face Nadal in the final (or maybe even Djoko in the semis). C'mon, Rog, get it together! :pray:

I'm impressed - I didn't think Ferrer had it in him to take a set off Federer these days. He didn't really do anything good that set, just Federer's little mini-slump continuing...

Expect a 6-2 final set in favour of the Swiss though.

:moody:

What is Federer doing?!!!

Well, at least Fed holds to open the third set, matching the number of service holds he had in set 2. :wacko:

Ha. Most farcical point of the match.

Unlike the prior two sets, the Spaniard is actually coming up with something special here in the third. He paints the lines and runs Roger ragged around the court, and gets the hold to 15. 1-all.

Oh dear, Wise is trying to jinx Roger. :angry: ;)

lol could you please elaborate on this comment?

Federer getting some first serves in again, and it shows as he holds to love. 2-1.

It was a long rally with each player having to cover much of the court. Federer tried a drop shot which didn't work, then an overhead which didn't work, then Ferrer tries a drop shot which didn't work, and finally Federer is at net with gaping open court before him, the point surely over, and somehow sends a backhand volley long (not wide).

Fair comment then.

Nice to see Ferrer taking advantage of Federer's lacklustre play now and producing some nice stuff of his own. He suddenly looks very pumped up for this match and the Swiss is getting increasingly frustrated. A similar thing happened in the Monaco match but the Argentine wasn't quite able to get over the line and Federer ground it out; by rights, Ferrer should have more chance than Monaco of pulling the victory off due to his higher ranking, but I still expect a 6-2/6-3 scoreline in favour of the man from Basle.

And Federer gets the early break. 2-1.