David Ferrer is in semi-final action against Feliciano Lopez for a place in the final of the Shanghai Masters.
Ferrer edged a nail-biter of a quarter-final with close rival Andy Roddick, hitting back to nick it at the death - 6-7(5), 6-2, 7-6(2). Both men smashed down 11 aces, an impressive effort from Ferrer but crucially, the Spaniard performed brilliantly under pressure, saving all five break points he faced.
"[I have] more confidence with my first serve," he said. "This tournament, in the important moments I've served really good. So this is very important to every match."
He now takes on close friend and Davis Cup team-mate Lopez as he looks to reach his second Masters 1000 final of the year. Lopez has been relishing the faster conditions in Shanghai this week, pulling off some major upsets against first Janko Tipsarevic and then Tomas Berdych.
Florian Mayer came into their quarter-final on a huge high after stunning Rafael Nadal the previous day but Lopez soon burst the German's bubble as he raced to a 6-2, 6-4 win.
"I think it's going to be a very tough match," he said. "David is a top player right now this moment, so I know it's going to be tough to beat him. He's a fighter. He's very fast. He's one of the best returners in the game right now, so I know it's going to be a difficult match. If I want to continue winning, I have to play the way I was playing today and yesterday."
Ferrer won 6-2, 6-0 when these two met on the tour in Monte Carlo earlier this year but Lopez actually leads 6-4 on the head-to-head and beat Ferrer in three sets in Shanghai two years ago. Look for him to pull off another upset today.
