Ferrer Cruises Past Troicki For Semis Spot

© AFP/Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer won his 100th match at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level.

World No. 6 David Ferrer notched his 100th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 win as he dismissed Serbian No. 11 seed Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-3 on Friday in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters quarter-finals.

The Spaniard, who posted his best result at this level when he reached the final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome (l. to Nadal) last year, is through to the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo for the second year in a row; he lost out to Nadal last year.

Ferrer had always enjoyed comfortable wins over Troicki in their two previous meetings, never surrendering more than three games in total, and was similarly in control on Friday in the first match on Court Central. The Spaniard’s relentless pressure from the baseline frequently wore Troicki down and coaxed the Serbian into unforced errors as he attempted to get the ball past the tireless Ferrer.

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The fourth-seeded Ferrer broke serve in the eighth game and went on to close out the first set as he benefitted from 17 unforced errors and a first serve percentage of 44 per cent from Troicki. The Spaniard then squandered an early break advantage in the second set, but made amends as he reeled off three consecutive games for a 5-1 lead. Troicki’s attacking game came together to recoup one of the breaks in the eighth game, but the errors returned for the Serb in the next game and Ferrer broke to claim victory in 84 minutes.

"It was a very tough match, a lot of rallies," reflected Ferrer. "I returned really good. Maybe this was the key in the game. I had a very good season so far. I have some good confidence. That helps me to be consistent in my game on clay. I hope it's going to continue."

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The 29-year-old Ferrer is through to his fourth tour-level semi-final of the season. In January he won his 10th ATP World Tour title at Auckland (d. Nalbandian) and then defeated World No. 1 Rafael Nadal to reach the Australian Open semi-finals for the first time (l. to Murray). The following month he triumphed on clay in Acapulco (d. Ferrer).

For a place in the final, Ferrer will face World No. 9 Jurgen Melzer, who ousted three-time former runner-up Roger Federer in the second quarter-final on Court Central.