Shanghai Rolex Masters, China

[CR8] David Ferrer (ESP) vs. [CR20] Bernard Tomic (AUS)

It was the most convincing performance for an entire match that I have ever seen displayed by Tomic. He can wow you with his game, but he can also confound you with his game.  He’s a brilliant player, who is well-known for his skillful hands; however, he’s also known for not staying in matches mentally and throwing in the towel at the most inopportune moments.  Today he was fully committed and energized the entire match. In contrast, Ferrer was off his game the whole match, something you do not usually see from him.  Although he would get one break back in the first set, he just never got comfortable in the match.  He seemed confused and just a tad fatigued.  This definitely was not the Ferrer that I have come to admire.  The first set was over before he had any time to find his footing.

Against a player like Tomic, you hope for a lapse in concentration.  Unfortunately for Ferrer today, the brief lack of concentration from Tomic was not enough for him to overcome the huge deficit he was in.  Tomic stayed with his game plan, confident that he could upset Ferrer today. Surprisingly, Tomic was the more consistent of the two, a term not often associated with Tomic’s game.  In a tournament that has already seen the upset of the number two seed, Ferrer will be the second seed on the sidelines.  The 6-4, 6-2 victory puts Tomic into the third round to face either Richard Gasquet or Vasek Pospisil.  Ferrer will use the time to rest before his next tournament.  Perhaps he’s pushed himself too soon after his recent return from his elbow injury.