Ferrer, Monfils Cruise Through; Robert Reaches First SF

© Reg CaldecottGael Monfils needed just 56 minutes to dismiss Yen-Hsun Lu in the quarter-finals.

Second seed David Ferrer reached the SA Tennis Open semi-finals for the second straight year Friday, beating Somdev Devvarman of India 6-1, 6-3 in 67 minutes. The Spaniard will next meet World No. 100 Stephane Robert of France.

"I think yesterday I did not play well, but today I arrived at the court very focused," said Ferrer. "I have never played against Robert before, but I know he is good on hard courts and I need to play well tomorrow."

Ferrer improved to a 6-1 record at the ATP World Tour 250 tennis tournament, after he won 65 per cent of service points and hit four aces past Devvarman. The World No. 18 saved five of six break points. Devvarman, who will celebrate his 25th birthday on 13 February, dropped to a 3-2 match record on the 2010 ATP World Tour season.

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Robert advanced to his first ATP World Tour semi-final after he defeated No. 141-ranked Dustin Brown of Jamaica 7-6(5), 6-3 in 89 minutes. There were four straight service breaks from 2-2 in the first set. Brown was unable to convert two break point opportunities at 1-3 and 3-5 in the second set, with No. 8 seed Robert serving at 15/40 both times. Robert saved 11 of 13 break point opportunities overall.

“I think I was a bit surprised when I started the match because my serve was not that good," admitted Robert. "That was my fight during the first set, to find the solution to serve better. At the end, I’m really happy with the way I played, especially in the second set. It was a great moment at the end, for sure."

The 25-year-old Brown, playing only his second ATP World Tour tournament (first since 2003 Newport), was attempting to become Jamaica's first tour-level semi-finalist in the Open Era. Robert, 29, improved to a 5-2 season record.

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World No. 13 Gael Monfils played the big points well as he dismissed seventh seed Yen-Hsun Lu 6-1, 6-4 to book a semi-final berth against Feliciano Lopez. The top seed saved all four break points he faced while capitalising on each of the three opportunities he created to race to victory in just 56 minutes.

“I think I played a strong game today and it was enough,” commented Monfils. “It will be tough against Feliciano [Lopez] because he is a big server. I think the altitude will help him a lot. I think I will have to find a good solution with the return tomorrow. I just have to play my game and focus more on the return maybe. I feel good so I hope tomorrow I will be fine.”

The 23-year-old Frenchman is through to his second ATP World Tour semi-final of the year after also reaching the last four at the Brisbane International (l. to Stepanek) in the first week of the season. Monfils, who was ousted in the third round of the Australian Open by John Isner, has compiled an 8-2 mark in 2010.

Third-seeded Spaniard Lopez won a big-serving battle with Rajeev Ram, edging the American 7-6(2), 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes. Both players hit 12 aces, but Lopez was able to save all seven break points he faced for a place in the semi-finals. 

The World No. 39 is playing his third tour-level tournament of the year and has a 5-2 season record.

“When you win three matches in a row [you have to be happy with your form]," said Lopez. "The first day (against Benjamin Balleret) was the most difficult for me, then I played a little bit better in the second round (against Blaz Kavcic) and I think today I played the best of the three matches this week.

“Of course I would love to play the final against David [Ferrer]. It’s going to be fun and would be good for Spanish tennis as well. I hope he wins and me also.”  

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