The 32-year-old achieved a rather remarkable feat, winning consecutive ATP 500 titles on clay and hard courts, the first coming on 23 February in Rio de Janeiro, the second six days later in Acapulco. An accomplishment so rare, you need to go all the way back to 1985 to find the last player – Ivan Lendl – to win back-to-back titles on different surfaces.
David Ferrer: 'the human metronome'
The words ‘natural’ and ‘talent’ don’t tend to come together when Ferrer is the subject. He doesn’t hit the ball as clean as Tomas Berdych, he doesn’t have the easy power of Stan Wawrinka and he doesn’t possess the flair of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils or even Fernando Verdasco. At 5’9”, he is one of just three players in the top 20 shorter than 6’.
Instead, the world No.8 relies on his staggering fitness levels and his single-mindedness to grind down more gifted opposition. It’s a cliché, but an apt one: he never gives up. Just like he looks after his books – he keeps every one he reads – Ferrer takes care of each point. His strength lies in his discipline.
In his victory over Nishikori, Ferrer could only muster 11 winners but his talented opponent unravelled to the tune of 40 unforced errors. That’s what the Spaniard does; he squeezes his opponents until the pips pop out.
When considering Ferrer’s position, one obvious question comes to mind: is he the greatest never to win a Grand Slam?
First, let’s take a look at the numbers.
He has won 24 ATP titles, including three this season alone. Two more and he will become the most decorated non-Grand Slam champion in the Open Era. Currently, Tom Okker, Jose-Luis Clerc and Brian Gottfried, who each have 25 titles, are the only major-less players with more trophies than Ferrer.
