NEW YORK, (Reuters) – Fourth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer edged Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3 6-7 2-6 6-3 7-6 yesterday in a see-saw slugfest marked by gutsy, gritty play to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Open.
Ferrer, who was a break down early in the fifth set, won the pressure packed four-hour, 31-minute quarter-final by claiming the climactic tiebreaker 7-4 when Tipsarevic hit a backhand into the net from deep in the corner.
“I don’t have words. I am really happy,” said the 30-year-old Ferrer, who went down on his knees in relief after the final point before raising both fists to the cheering Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd. “It was an emotional match. It was a really tough match. Janko is an amazing player. He fights a lot.”
The win was another highlight in a career season for Ferrer, who has captured five titles on three different surfaces this year and made at least the quarters of all four grand slams.
Ferrer denied the eighth seed Tipsarevic his first trip to a grand slam semi-final in 35 tries but the 28-year-old Serb had nothing to be ashamed of in a hard-hitting war of attrition in which both players were treated for injuries.
