ARTICLE Moya beats Ferrero BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Two-time champion Carlos Moya outlasted Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero on Saturday, prevailing
3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 over two hours and 40 minutes to reach the final of the Copa Telmex.
Moya, who won his first pro title in Buenos Aires in 1995 and repeated in 2003, will face Filippo Volandri of Italy in Sunday's championship match. Sixth-seeded Volandri defeated Agustin Calleri of Argentina 6-3, 6-4 earlier in the other semifinal.
A crowd favourite, Moya saluted spectators, who chanted "Ole! Ole!" to celebrate his victory.
"I can't believe it!" said Moya, who noted he scrambled in the second set. "He was playing very well and I didn't see any way to beat him for a while. But I had to get more aggressive and move up to win points."
Saturday's showdown between Moya and Ferrero pitted two former French Open champions against one another on the outdoor clay at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club. Ferrero had won seven of their 11 previous encounters, but Moya won the previous two - both last year.
The former Davis Cup teammates duelled evenly before the crowd of 4,000.
In the first set, both held serve until Ferrero broke to lead 5-3, and then held to claim the first set.
Moya broke Ferrero early for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but play remained even with long rallies and several unforced errors by both players.
Ferrero saved three set points before evening the set 5-5 and sending it to a tiebreak. With the crowd's support, Moya capitalized on Ferrero's unforced errors to easily claim the tiebreak and send the match to a deciding set.
Moya started quickly but didn't claim the first break until the ninth game, taking a 5-4 lead and finally winning on his second match point.
[...]
source:
Slam! Sports
