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Ferrer routs Roddick; Fed routs Rafa

Can magic continue v. Federer?

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Mark Lyons

Roger Federer is 7-0 v. David Ferrer.

Now it’s David Ferrer’s turn to see if he can go Gonzo on Roger Federer. The rising Spaniard took another step toward theTop 5 on Saturday by destroying Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-1 in the TMC Shanghai semis and will now see whether his much improved arsenal is good enough to take down No. 1 Roger Federer, whom he has never beaten in seven tries and who stunned Rafa Nadal in the semis.

Ferrer is unbeaten at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai and is attempting to become the first player to win the title in his debut since countryman Alex Corretja in 1998. Roddick, who looked so good early in the week, received treatment for lower back stiffness in the first set, served just four aces and won just 57 percent of points on his first serve and 47 percent of points on his second serve. The super speedy Spaniard was much more accurate from the back court and was never really threatened in the match. Ferrer has been far more impressive in his first more matches than any of his high level foes including Richard Gasquet, Novak Djokovic, Nadal and Roddick.

"Today I played very good,” Ferrer said. “Maybe the key was I return very well all the match. It is my first final in Shanghai and I'm very happy for that. Now I want to enjoy this moment. I am playing with a lot of confidence. I am playing very well. But I don't think I am the favorite player to win the tournament."

Federer and Ferrer have practiced together and Federer will enter the match as a substantial favorite, but if the Spaniard can work the edges of the courts like he has done all week, he has to be given a chance at an upset. As well as Federer has played in his last two matches, he has shown some vulnerability this fall, including in his opening loss at Shanghai to Fernando Gonzalez, who was 0-10 against him entering the match.

"I'm happy to have proved myself, yet again,” Federer said. “It was similar at the US Open. I was sort of struggling a little bit to get to the last 16 or quarters, and then I beat everybody in straight sets. Davydenko, Roddick and Djokovic. So here a similar thing. … I'm exactly where I wanted to be. I got a shot at the title now so it's a great feeling."

A few side notes: Roddick said his lower back injury shouldn’t affect him for the Davis Cup final, which begins in less than two weeks. … Now it’s official: Nadal’s post Wimbledon results were worse in 2007 than in 2006, as he only reached two semifinals after nearly upsetting Federer at Wimbledon. … Playing the final tournament of their long partnership, Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor advanced to the Cup final after beating Paul Hanley/Kevin Ullyett 6-4, 6-7(8), 10-5. They will play US Open champions Simon Aspelin/Julian Knowle, who took a 6-4, 6-4 win over Martin Damm/Leander Paes.