David Ferrer continues to set great example on tour

David Ferrer has set an exemplary example of how to maximise your talents and continues to show that grit and determination can get you right to the very top. Clearly the Spaniard is a gifted tennis player, but it his prolonged stay in amongst the top of the rankings has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Ferrer doesn’t always get the attention he deserves, but you get the sense that is just how he likes it.

The 32 year old has honed a number of aspects of playing professional tennis, not limited to his ability on the court. Perhaps the one surprising fact, given his attention to every detail of his career, is that he is a chain smoker, although this doesn’t seem to have hindered his incredible fitness.

Aside from this one anomaly, his career has been satisfying consistent. Part of his charm is that he may have had a career high ranking of number 3 in the world in 2013, but he is still kitted out in Lotto attire and is arguably the Top 10 player in the limelight the least.

Managing his Schedule

One thing that has stood out to me over the last decade is the way Ferrer manages his schedule. Often there are a number of ATP 500 or ATP 250 events running concurrently and those in major cities, like Dubai or Tokyo, attract the big names.

Ferrer has shown a willingness to travel further afield in the question for rankings points. He is often the top seed at more obscure events, but they are worth just as much and have been a big reason as to why he has occupied place in the Top 10 for so long.

It is also noticeable how Ferrer avoids upsets more often than most. He may not have cracked the Big Four, but he tends to meet his seeding at almost every event. In Grand Slams you can be sure that he will reach the quarter finals, and he has capitalised on chances when the draw has opened up further for him.

Ferrer has a burgeoning trophy cabinet, which isn’t always true of the players in and around the Top 10 of this generation. The Big Four have tended the dominate when it comes to winning the last match of an event, but Ferrer’s 24 career titles once again show how clever he has been.

He has won the Mexican Open on four occasions, three of those coming when the tournament was played on clay at the start of March. It required Ferrer to change from playing on hard courts in Australia, to the South American clay and back to the American hard court swing.

The reluctance of other top players gave Ferrer a fantastic chance at picking up titles in these arguably smaller events and he continues to execute of this strategy. He transitioned to clay excellent in February of this year to win the inaugural Rio Open in Brazil.

Attitude Trumps Talent

Despite not wielding any obvious strengths, his speed and determination not only wins him points, but entire matches. They say that the majority of tennis matches are lost and not won, but Ferrer ensures that he will not throw a match away.

It is consistency that will be the envy of many players on tour and whilst not hugely complicated, it seems entirely unachievable for the vast majority. The typical player outside of the Big Four seems to flit between their best tennis and their worst.

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