 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 | Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 11 Apr 2008 |
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| 11 Apr 2008 - AWD Dome, Bremen - Joseph Lynch - GER v ESP | |
| Ferrer keeps Spain on course |
David Ferrer won a bruising clash with German number one Philipp Kohlschreiber 67(3) 63 64 62 to leave Spain needing just one more point to clinch a place in the semifinals of the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.
Ferrer took to the court after Rafael Nadal's straight-sets win over Nicolas Kiefer had given the visitors a perfect start.
The long-haired Spaniard just missed out on the first set but played at an outstanding level for the other three sets on the indoor hard court at the AWD Dome, to the delight of the large contingent of Spanish fans.
On-court treatment for Kohlschreiber
Kohlschreiber, who needed on-court treatment to his back and leg muscles during the second set, is due to return on Saturday to team up with Philipp Petzschner in an attempt to keep Germany in the tie against the Spanish doubles partnership of Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.
"We'll try everything we can do pull it back," said Kohlschreiber, who was optimistic about his chance of being fit for the doubles. "Today David just played a bit too well."
After an early exchange of breaks, the tight first set edged towards a tie-break.
Kohlschreiber took the initiative early on with a 4-2 lead and extended that with a perfectly struck backhand return back past his opponent and down the line.
The German missed his first chance to take the set with a double-fault but a backhand return to the net from Ferrer handed him the set in one hour four minutes.
Ferrer, the world No. 5 from Alicante, took his first break-point chance at the start of the second and that proved to be the turning point.
"He made it awkward for me in the first set, playing with a lot of pace and spin," Ferrer said."In the second set I started to move more, and play better."
A lengthy massage for the German
The Spaniard surged into a 5-0 lead and it looked for a while as if it might be game over, as Kohlschreiber needed a lengthy massage.
Fortunately, the German was able to continue and he gave the crowd hope when he got one of the breaks back. That was down to a double-fault from Ferrer but he gave no such gifts with his second attempt at serving out. On match point he played a wonderful forehand out wide to open up the court and finished off with a smash to take the set in 40 minutes.
Kohlschreiber dropped his service twice at the start of the third set too, and it followed a similar pattern as the German recovered one of them but could not quite get back on level terms.
Having to scrap so hard was clearly taking it out off Kohlschreiber, who fell 2-1 and a break behind in the fourth set when he put a tired looking backhand volley into the net as he raced in for what should have been a simple kill.
Ferrer too strong and consistent
Kohlschreiber continued to attack the Ferrer backhand as he sought a way back into the match but the Spaniard was too strong, too consistent.
The German saved one break point at 2-4 but quickly conceded another one and lost it with a forehand that boomed way over the baseline.
Serving at 5-2, and two breaks to the good, Ferrer made no mistake. He forced match point with a brilliant recovery lob and pounced on a weak Kohlschreiber drop shot to complete victory in three hours 11 minutes.
"David was magnificent," said Spain captain Emilio Sanchez. "He really played up to his world ranking."
Related Links on other websites
> Informationen auf Deutsch - DTB
> Información en español - RFET
Related Links on Daviscup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
> Nadal puts Spaniards in front
> Nadal to open up in Bremen
Related Audio
 Interview with David Ferrer (ESP) - day 1
Interview with Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) - day 1
 
If you cannot hear the audio, then please update your media player by following one of the links above.
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