LONDON — Rafael Nadal outlasted David Ferrer 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 Friday to finish the group stage unbeaten at the ATP World Tour Finals.
Neither player had much at stake as Nadal had already clinched first place in the group and Ferrer had been eliminated, but the two baseline sluggers still went at it relentlessly for more than 2 1/2 hours in a match full of heavy hitting and long rallies.
Nadal earned the decisive break to go up 5-4 in the third set — having previously wasted five break points in a marathon first game of the decider — and sealed victory with a backhand volley winner.
Nadal faces Novak Djokovic in the semifinals Saturday, and this kind of grueling encounter probably wasn’t the best preparation — especially as the Serb No. 1 had the day off. But Nadal is more concerned with maintaining his late-season resurgence after struggling for most of the year.
"For me it was another opportunity to compete. I think I competed well. I won a very tough match," Nadal said. "Three straight wins against top-eight players, that’s great news for me. … That’s a positive way to finish the season. Let’s see tomorrow what’s going to happen."
Later Friday, Andy Murray plays Stan Wawrinka with the winner earning a semifinal against Roger Federer.
Ferrer lost his first two group matches to fall out of contention and looked ready for a holiday when he dropped his first two service games to hand Nadal a 3-0 lead in the first set. But Ferrer responded by winning the next four games, only to be broken again for 6-5 and give his fellow Spaniard a chance to serve out the set. However, Nadal missed a set point after rallying from 0-40 down and Ferrer eventually converted his fifth break point to force the tiebreaker.
In the second set, Nadal broke for 5-3 and served it out at love to even the match. The third then began with the best game of the match, which lasted nearly 14 minutes and 200 shots — including some spectacular winners from both players. Ferrer saved five break points before finally converting his third game point.
That game seemed to take its toll on both players and neither had another break point until Ferrer netted a backhand at 4-4 and Nadal then hit a forehand winner down the line to take the lead for good.
"Rafael in the third set, he improved his game," Ferrer said. "It was close, but he was better."