David Ferrer attempts to win his third ATP Auckland title on Saturday when he takes on Olivier Rochus in the final.You can watch and bet on Ferrer v Rochus live for free at bet365 > live tennisFerrer won the Heineken Open title in 2007 and 2011 and the top seeded Spaniard will be strong favourite to pick up his 12th career title on Saturday afternoon. He's looked a class act all week and survived the gruelling test of having to play back to back quarter-final and semi-final matches on Friday, first winning a slugfest with Alejandro Falla 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and then outplaying third seed Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4.
Few are giving Rochus much chance but the experienced Belgian will be going out there with nothing to lose having been on the verge of pulling out of the event at the start of the week.
"I almost didn't go on court against [Tobias] Kamke in the first round as I was feeling really bad with the flu, and five days later I'm in the final. I cannot believe it," he laughed. "It's the magic of this game. I almost feel I'm playing the best tennis of my career!"
Rochus has confounded expectations all week, coming back from the brink to win desperately tight encounters with Thomaz Bellucci and Benoit Paire before seeing off 2008 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4 in the semis.
“I'll just try and enjoy the final and go for it," Rochus said. "There's no pressure for me; I will play against one of the best players in the world in a final of an ATP event. This is why we practise, to get the chance to play these kinds of matches."