The decline of David Ferrer...?

[Homeboy Hotel]

Retired from a match in Acapulco a set up, withdrew from Indian Wells with leg injury - combined with the back drop of not defending his toyboy 250/500 titles since the end of last year and a poor WTF showing.

David Ferrer turns 32 this year and is definitely an over achiever with the game he has - world No 3, Slam final, Masters win, WTF final.

Is this the start of his decline? Or a temporary blip?

 

[THESEXPISTOL]

Most likely the decline... His tennis is mostly based on his physical condition. He's not like, per say, Haas.

 

[FreeBird]

He will drop out of Top 5 but he plays a lot of 250s and 500s to keep the ranking high. Not to forget, contrary to the belief, he has not lost before QF in a GS for quite a long time.

I think that he will finish YE # 7 or 8 if he is healthy.

 

[insideguy]

One can only hope

 

[joeri888]

He's still fifth in the race, with already close to a 1000 points for 2014.

 

[Stanimal]

Anyone over 30 with a muscle strain is washed up according to this site.

Do you people even watch tennis?

 

[tennis_hack]

Ferrer is just getting started.

 

[Phoenix1983]

One can only hope

I agree, let's get someone like Dimitrov to be a Top 10 regular instead of Ferrer.

 

[Roddick85]

In my opinion Ferrer is just going back to where he should belong, he's not real top 3 material. I have a lot of respect for him, he's a hard worker and he grinds it out, out there, but I never saw him as a dominant player. There's not a single aspect of his game that is better than average. He doesn't have powerful groundstroke or a great serve, he just doesn't have any weapons on either wings, or great hands at the net.

Seeing how Federer is playing lately, I think Federer will bump Ferrer out of the top 4 very soon.

 

[-snake-]

In my opinion Ferrer is just going back to where he should belong, he's not real top 3 material. I have a lot of respect for him, he's a hard worker and he grinds it out, out there, but I never saw him as a dominant player. There's not a single aspect of his game that is better than average. He doesn't have powerful groundstroke or a great serve, he just doesn't have any weapons on either wings, or great hands at the net.

Seeing how Federer is playing lately, I think Federer will bump Ferrer out of the top 4 very soon.

That'd be awesome :twisted:

 

[Backspin1183]

If healthy will continue to be in top 10 for next couple of years. He doesn't have a lot of weapons but he's got a lot of heart against players not named Nadal, Federer, Djokovic or Murray.
His RoS is one of the best on tour. He returns big serves even better than Djokovic does.

 

[Mainad]

Ferrer is too often underrated on here. He may not have particularly strong weapons but his all-court game, speed and ball striking are phenomenal! He is a permanent nightmare for any player not named Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray! It is no accident that he has been ranked consistently in the top 5 now for the last few years!

He would certainly have been in the final in Acapulco if he had not been forced to withdraw from his semi against Anderson after he had bossed him all round the court in the 1st set. I'd love to have seen another final between him and Dimitrov!

 

[TTMR]

In my opinion Ferrer is just going back to where he should belong, he's not real top 3 material. I have a lot of respect for him, he's a hard worker and he grinds it out, out there, but I never saw him as a dominant player. There's not a single aspect of his game that is better than average. He doesn't have powerful groundstroke or a great serve, he just doesn't have any weapons on either wings, or great hands at the net.

Seeing how Federer is playing lately, I think Federer will bump Ferrer out of the top 4 very soon.

Think harder. Ferrer has one of the greatest service returns of all time, and the statistics bear that out.

 

[Backspin1183]

Ferrer is too often underrated on here. He may not have particularly strong weapons but his all-court game, speed and ball striking are phenomenal! He is a permanent nightmare for any player not named Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray! It is no accident that he has been ranked consistently in the top 5 now for the last few years!

He would certainly have been in the final in Acapulco if he had not been forced to withdraw from his semi against Anderson after he had bossed him all round the court in the 1st set. I'd love to have seen another final between him and Dimitrov!

It had to come from a pusher fan


kidding


great post. You're one of the best posters on this forum.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

I hope he is done. He has been an embarrassment to the sport for too long. At the very least, he needs to slip out of the top 4 for good.

 

[insideguy]

He is missing Indian wells which he got bounced out in the 2nd round last year but those are some points. Then he is a runner up in Miami so if he doesnt show there or goes out early he will be dropping points there as well. So he has the potential to lose some decent points in the next 3 weeks.

 

[Stanimal]

Yeah, bad timing for Ferru but prior to injury he was playing an f-load of tennis already. All these matches against guys 6'8 is really going to take its toll more and more with age too. I hope he can make Miami and score some points. He's certainly not top 3-4, but a really solid top 10 and I don't mind seeing him up there. There's only Nadal and Fed fans on this site, so why do you guys not like him? It's not like he's pounding your favorites too often..

 

[tennis_hack]

Yeah, bad timing for Ferru but prior to injury he was playing an f-load of tennis already. All these matches against guys 6'8 is really going to take its toll more and more with age too. I hope he can make Miami and score some points. He's certainly not top 3-4, but a really solid top 10 and I don't mind seeing him up there. There's only Nadal and Fed fans on this site, so why do you guys not like him? It's not like he's pounding your favorites too often..

He beats all the guys that could challenge Nadal or Djokovic, whilst, himself, posing far less of a threat to Nadal or Djokovic than the guys he prevents their meeting with. In this way he kind of makes the tennis world more boring and predictable with his presence.

Oh, and he also shoves line judges.

 

[Chanwan]

In my opinion Ferrer is just going back to where he should belong, he's not real top 3 material. I have a lot of respect for him, he's a hard worker and he grinds it out, out there, but I never saw him as a dominant player. There's not a single aspect of his game that is better than average. He doesn't have powerful groundstroke or a great serve, he just doesn't have any weapons on either wings, or great hands at the net.

Seeing how Federer is playing lately, I think Federer will bump Ferrer out of the top 4 very soon.

I give you
- RoS
- speed
- stamina
- footwork
- consistency
- forehand, especially the inside-out
- mentality
- heart

That said, I too think he's on the decline - at least a bit. He hasn't been as good at beating everyone but the big 4 since the FO.

Agree that Fed/Murray will probably soon rise above him again. He ain't as good as they are and never really was.

 

[Stanimal]

Line judges aren't statues, let the guy grab his ****

 

[spinovic]

There has been nothing wrong with his form in 2014. He had a strong result in Australia and looked to have a great shot at winning Acapulco prior to the injury forcing his retirement. The loss to Dolgopolov isn't a big deal to me...the guy is a talent and can push anyone on a good day and Ferrer isn't so talented that he is above losing a few matches like that over the course of a season.

I do think missing any significant time that causes a ranking drop could hurt him. Getting up into the top 4 has been huge for his improved slam results because it has allowed him to get some favorable draws that were previously impossible (like getting in the opposite half of Nole/Rafa which lead to a slam final).

 

[caugas]

In my opinion Ferrer is just going back to where he should belong, he's not real top 3 material. I have a lot of respect for him, he's a hard worker and he grinds it out, out there, but I never saw him as a dominant player. There's not a single aspect of his game that is better than average. He doesn't have powerful groundstroke or a great serve, he just doesn't have any weapons on either wings, or great hands at the net.

Seeing how Federer is playing lately, I think Federer will bump Ferrer out of the top 4 very soon.

I like Ferrer and most people on tour like him. He's got heart and guts and is a great player. How many years has this guy been top 10 2+ that's pretty impressive