French Open: Ferrer proves too strong for listless Tsonga

One man’s dream is another’s nightmare. So it turned out to be in the second semi-final of the French Open in Paris. After all the expectations surrounding a rousing performance from the French hope, it was the ever reliable Spaniard who delivered the goods to reach the maiden Grand Slam final of his under nourished career. David Ferrer was sixth time lucky as he coasted home to a 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over a strangely deflated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in just over two hours. Ferrer will take on Rafael Nadal this Sunday, in what shall be the first Spanish final since Albert Costa defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2002.

Ferrer had a poor start – a double fault in the first game saw him fall to 0-30 and though an ace restored parity, the game slipped to deuce. A couple of service winners helped Ferrer take the first game without any further drama. The usually sedate Ferrer was presenting himself in an hitherto unfamiliar form, mixing his consistent ways with a streak of aggression.

A forehand return winner forced the second game to deuce and Tsonga made a couple of unforced errors to succumb to an early break. Ferrer went on to win five straight games even as Tsonga struggled to find the range on his normally brutal forehand. Tsonga did tick off the sixth game, but then Ferrer took the lead with a fluent hold in the next game.

The second set began to look like a mirror image of the first, with Tsonga on the boil again. The Frenchman took a 3-0 lead, after breaking Ferrer at love in the second game. But Ferrer reversed the tide by taking the next four games including two breaks of serve. Luckily, for the concerned, yet, silent spectators inside Philippe Chatrier, Tsonga stemmed the bleeding in the eighth game.

A blistering forehand down the line winner gave three break points to the Frenchman. An error from Ferrer off his forehand tied the set at 4-4. Tsonga found a sharp angle with his forehand cross court winner to smell an opportunity in the tenth game, but Ferrer managed to hold his own to draw level at 5-5. An overcooked forehand left Tsonga staring at break point in the next game, but an ace rescued the Frenchman.

Ferrer drew advantage with a delicate drop shop, but another monster serve from the burly Tsonga helped him save a second break point. It was a pivotal game in the context of the match and both men hustled through the court as they fought through to a fourth deuce, before Tsonga held serve to go up 6-5 with a typically exuberant forehand winner followed by an error from Ferrer.

The set went into a tie-breaker when Ferrer held easily in the twelfth game. Playing an impressive brand of attacking tennis, Ferrer drew first blood to take a 3-0 lead. Just as the shadows lengthened, Tsonga found himself mired in the clouds at 1-6. The Frenchman saved the first two set points on his serve, but could only delay Ferrer, not deny him. The Spaniard clinched a two set lead with yet another delightful drop shot that left Tsonga stranded at the back of the court.

The match took decisive shape when Ferrer thumped an angled forehand return winner to set up break point in the fourth game of the third set. Tsonga dumped a forehand in the net on the next point to offer a 3-1 lead to the dominant Spaniard. Ferrer is an old hand at keeping things steady. With virtually a leg in the first Grand Slam final of his career, he did just that, by playing the percentages.

When Ferrer held to take a 5-2 lead, Tsonga was forced to deal with the precipitous task of serving to stay in the match. The Frenchman found the task too hot to handle – making a double fault at 40-15 to exhibit his nerves. Ferrer slapped a stinging forehand down the line winner at deuce to earn his first match point. Tsonga ended his own misery, when he flailed a forehand cross court long to leave Ferrer sinking into the dirt in delirious joy.

In the end it was about two men, who had an equal collection of demons to deal with even as opportunity stared them in their faces. It was Ferrer who proved to be the better prepared of the two in dealing with the occasion to exorcise the ghosts inhabiting their weighty careers. Tsonga will have proven to himself that he has what it takes to tide a step further, but will have to wait out his opportunity.

Meanwhile, Ferrer can deal with the recovery and preparation for his mind numbing encounter with a familiar titan. Nadal has an intimidating 20-5 edge over his compatriot, including comprehensive victories in their previous six matches.

Ferrer will be well served to pursue the subdued aggression that delivered him such stunning results against Tsonga in the semis. However, unlike Tsonga, who made 55 unforced errors, he can expect no such charity from his formidable opponent on Sunday.