JC defeated Carraz 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2) in the quarterfinals and will now face Ljubicic!
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Moya Bounced Out by Nieminen; Ferrero Wins
BANGKOK (Reuters) - [...]
Moya's fellow Spaniard, world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, was stretched to the limit by unheralded Frenchman Gregory Carraz before he prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
[...]
Ferrero began well as he raced into a 5-2 lead with a double break on his way to bagging the first set.
In the second, Ferrero paid the price for failing to convert break points in the first and third games.
With Ferrero failing to stamp his authority on the match, Carraz made the most of the opportunities handed his way and broke the Spaniard in the fourth game.
Carraz also gained a 5-3 advantage in the decider but Ferrero clawed his way back into the contest with his blistering returns.
Ferrero stepped up the pace in the tiebreak to clinch it 7-2 and book a place in the last four with Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
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WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Ferrero: "It was a very difficult match because he was playing 100% all the time, and I didn't have any time to be relaxed in the match you know I had to play and conentrate 100% all the time on my tennis. I'm in great form and playing good and I'm serving but this kind of players it's very difficult to play against because they serve very well, and they play serve and volley all the time. I think Carraz played very, very well today. I think I had to play at the same level as him all the time to win the match."
SEMIFINAL MATCHES
Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero meets Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who is seeded No. 6 this week. The 24-year-old Croatian is looking to reach his first ATP final since capturing the Lyon title in 2001. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who has lost to Ljubicic in their two previous matches, has a 60-14 record in 2003 and has won three titles in five final appearances this season. He is one of four players, the others being Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, who are battling for the coveted year-end No. 1 title.
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Moya Bounced Out by Nieminen; Ferrero Wins
BANGKOK (Reuters) - [...]
Moya's fellow Spaniard, world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero, was stretched to the limit by unheralded Frenchman Gregory Carraz before he prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
[...]
Ferrero began well as he raced into a 5-2 lead with a double break on his way to bagging the first set.
In the second, Ferrero paid the price for failing to convert break points in the first and third games.
With Ferrero failing to stamp his authority on the match, Carraz made the most of the opportunities handed his way and broke the Spaniard in the fourth game.
Carraz also gained a 5-3 advantage in the decider but Ferrero clawed his way back into the contest with his blistering returns.
Ferrero stepped up the pace in the tiebreak to clinch it 7-2 and book a place in the last four with Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
------------------------------
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Ferrero: "It was a very difficult match because he was playing 100% all the time, and I didn't have any time to be relaxed in the match you know I had to play and conentrate 100% all the time on my tennis. I'm in great form and playing good and I'm serving but this kind of players it's very difficult to play against because they serve very well, and they play serve and volley all the time. I think Carraz played very, very well today. I think I had to play at the same level as him all the time to win the match."
SEMIFINAL MATCHES
Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero meets Croatian Ivan Ljubicic, who is seeded No. 6 this week. The 24-year-old Croatian is looking to reach his first ATP final since capturing the Lyon title in 2001. The 23-year-old Spaniard, who has lost to Ljubicic in their two previous matches, has a 60-14 record in 2003 and has won three titles in five final appearances this season. He is one of four players, the others being Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi, who are battling for the coveted year-end No. 1 title.
