World number nine Richard Gasquet of France is through to his second career Grand Slam semifinal after holding his nerve to defeat world number four David Ferrer 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the US Open 2013 Tennis Championships. Ferrer was a semifinalist last year at Flushing Meadows.
“Even if I was leading two sets to love I knew it was David Ferrer. I knew he’s a big fighter so I knew it was not over,” Gasquet said. “I knew I was so close to win this match, and I fight a lot to finish. Especially at 5-3 I was a little bit nervous to go in the semis of US Open, and I managed to do it. It’s a big victory for me.”
Gasquet will attempt to reach his first Grand Slam final but will have a tougher assignment ahead as he meets world number two Rafael Nadal in the semifinals on Saturday. The Frenchman has never won against Nadal on tour in their past ten meetings.
The Frenchman reached his first Grand Slam semifinal back in 2007 at the Wimbledon Championships where he lost to Roger Federer. If he reaches the final in New York, he’ll become the first from his country to achieve this feat since Cedric Pioline in 1993.
Ferrer had this to comment regarding his opponent and the match in general.
“I think Richard played a very good game with his backhand and he was serving very good in important moments,” he said. “Maybe in the first and second sets I didn’t play so good. I was a little bit tired. But I tried to do my best.
“I fought until the last ball. I think in the fifth set when he got the break, I played very bad in that game, with three easy mistakes. But in a fifth set with one break down it is difficult to come back again, because Richard is a Top 10 player.”
