Ferrer Keeps Auckland Success Going, Advances to Semifinals

Sock made a decision to carry on.

However, due to rain in Sydney, the match has been suspended until tonight around 7:15 pm EST.

“I tried to serve good and be aggressive with my forehand”.

To be honest, I was kicking myself a little bit, early last night.

The 27-year-old says he “feels so happy” to win the tournament. “I knew that it was going to be a physical match”.

And in the second set, it all changed. Sock then had a long discussion with the tour trainer, doctor and supervisor before deciding to come for the second set.

Sock dug himself a 0-40 hole serving at 2-3 in the opening set, an unenviable position to be in when facing one of the world’s premier return artists.

Bouchard will play seventh-seeded Alize Cornet of France, who beat Johanna Larsson of Sweden 6-1, 6-1.

American Donald Young eased past local wildcard Finn Tearney 6-2, 6-3. Sock was the victor in those two. Now, Ferrer, on the other hand, is celebrated for his ability to absorb pace and play defense. “The important thing is I am in the semi-finals playing good tennis”.

And think if Sock ever wins a major final-you know you’d want one of those socks!

Even with his illness Sock played some remarkable tennis over the week and is clearly a future top 10 player. I looked over at my box – ‘Should I do it, should I not?’ I did it real quick.

He and Sock have meet three times previously, with Bautista Agut winning once – at the quarter-final stage in Auckland two years ago.

Rain had postponed Tomic’s quarterfinal until Friday morning, meaning he would have been forced to play a second match later in the day had he advanced to the semifinals.

Bautista Agut is a worthy champion – maybe not in the way he would have wanted – but a champion nonetheless.

However, Bautista Agut realised that he just had to keep pushing the ball wide and Sock wouldn’t be able to get there in time.

Ferrer, who is chasing a record-breaking fifth title in Auckland, will not play until Wednesday.

Although RBA is a capable, nearly sneaky, server – Tsonga has proven that he has the skill to break him at will, beating him 6-2 6-2 last November in Bercy.