Ferrer sends Nadal packing

Spaniard David Ferrer celebrates after beating compatriot Rafael Nadal at the Shanghai Masters Cup yesterday.Photo: AFP

World number two Rafael Nadal was shocked in three marathon sets by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Tuesday in the second surprise result at the Masters Cup in as many days.
With top-ranked Roger Federer beaten on Monday, Nadal let slip a one-set lead over his tenacious countryman who sealed it 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a gripping round-robin encounter that lasted two hours and 40 minutes.
Ferrer, an outsider before the tournament, now has one foot in the semi-finals after his straight-sets defeat of Novak Djokovic. The third-seeded Serb was earlier eliminated after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Richard Gasquet.
Nadal, who can still qualify for the semis, outlasted Ferrer in an absorbing first set which saw five breaks of serve in the first six games. Ferrer's netted forehand finally ended the tussle in Nadal's favour after 55 minutes.
The hard-working Ferrer had been broken in his opening two games but made a better start to the second set, saving four break points in a close-fought fifth game.
And it was Ferrer who went a break up, battering Nadal with a super-aggressive forehand before the Mallorcan struck back for 5-4 with a pair of unplayable backhands.
However Ferrer conjured two set points on Nadal's serve and nailed the second as his under-pressure opponent flighted a forehand long.
Ferrer was in the ascendancy and he converted his third break point, gifted by a double-fault, for 3-1 in the third with a punishing forehand winner.
Nerves set in as he served for the set and Nadal capitalised to gain a lifeline break back. However, Ferrer made no mistake when serving at 5-3, collapsing to the court in joy as he sealed it with a backhand pass.
Earlier Djokovic slumped out after his second consecutive defeat, spelling a disappointing end to his breakthrough season.
The 20-year-old Serb went down 6-4, 6-2 to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in a flat display which rules him out of finishing among the top two in Gold Group.
“Considering the results I had this year, people expected me to do well here in Shanghai. I was one of the favourites for the title," Djokovic said.
"Obviously I probably burned out a little bit and had too much pressure on me."
The subdued Serb got off to a slow start and was a double break down before showing signs of life, breaking back but still losing the set, 6-4.
Djokovic, pounded by Gasquet's big backhand, was struggling to hold serve and he threw in the towel at 4-2 down in the second as the Frenchman wrapped it up in one hour and 25 minutes.
“I had a perfect match. I played a lot of amazing shots with my backhand and everything, so it was a really good match for me," said Gasquet.
The 21-year-old Frenchman can still reach the semi-finals after his three-sets loss to Nadal.
Nadal, who pulled out injured in 2005 and was beaten by Federer in last year's semis, is also still in the hunt after his opening win over Gasquet.
Triple champion Federer was shocked on Monday by eighth-ranked Chilean Fernando Gonzalez.