Rematch!

After being out with a series of injuries, Nikolay Davydenko had a pretty good tournament in Monte-Carlo last week. This week, he is having a great tournament and is back to form.

Davydenko held easily in his first-two service games and had three break points in Nadal’s first-two service games. Unfortunately for the Russian, he did not convert. In game five, Nadal was presented with two break points, and the Spaniard converted on the second one. Nadal then ran off with the set.

It looked like Nadal would be off to the races instead the Russian hunkered down in the second set. The two players then slogged it out in each game with plenty of break points in each of their service games. Nadal eventually broke in game four giving the Spaniard a pathway for the match. He then cruised to take the match 6-3 6-2 after 106 minutes of play. Nadal will play in his fifth-consecutive Barcelona Open final and will play his compatriot David Ferrer.

Fernando Gonzalez and his forehand had dismissed two Argentines and a Spaniard on his way to the semifinal. Like yesterday, Gonzalez struck first and broke Ferrer in his opening service game. He trounced the Spaniard from the baseline to take the first set 6-2.

In the second set, Ferrer changed his game plan. He broke Gonzalez in the second game of the set and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The 27-year-old won the set easily at 6-2.

In the third set, Ferrer struck first in the fourth game after it looked like Gonzalez would hold easily. He handed Ferrer the game with a couple of unforced errors. Ferrer was able to hold on. While Ferrer was serving for the match, Gonzalez finally broke back in game nine after having some break opportunities in Ferrer’s previous service game. The Chilean then held to even the set at 5-5.

In the tiebreak, Ferrer lead with a mini-break at 2-1. Gonzalez and his forehand returned the favor to level it. Ferrer scored another mini-break with a lob that just fell inside the line. Gonzalez and his forehand broke back in ninth point to get back on serve. Gonzalez double-faulted and gave Ferrer a match point. The Spaniard converted on the first chance for the match 2-6 6-2 7-6(5).

Ferrer will now meet Nadal for a rematch of the Barcelona Open final last year. The 22-year-old hopes to win his fifth-straight title. Nadal leads their head-to-head 6-3. Two of Ferrer’s wins come on hard surfaces. The third win was on clay, but it was against an 18-year-old Nadal in 2004.

(Images: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)