Motivation no problem as Ferrer enters twilight of career
Veteran Spaniard adjusts his game to keep up with young bucks on the world circuit, reports David Long.
Rain the first week, David Ferrer in the second. You pretty much know what you’re getting at the ASB Classic these days.
The 35-year-old is back in Auckland for the 13th year and trying to win the tournament for a record-breaking fifth time.
He’s on nodding terms with most of the staff and media who cover the tournament every year and, quite frankly, this event wouldn’t be the same without him.
‘‘I feel good, really happy to come back again to Auckland one more time,’’ he said. ‘‘I always appreciate being here. I don’t know how many more times I’ll be here, but for me I’ll try to enjoy this week.’’
He comes into the tournament ranked 37 in the world, the worst ranking he’s had in Auckland since he first came to New Zealand in 2003 at 58 in the world.
But Ferrer is at the stage of his career where he knows it’s not going to be easy to win matches anymore.
‘‘I began the year not really good, losing a lot of matches without enjoying playing tennis too much,’’ he said of 2017.
‘‘But in the summer I won a tournament in Bastad. I improved my game, my mentality and I’m healthy and that’s the most important thing now in my career.
‘‘I have different pressures, because I don’t have the same ranking I had two years ago, but I have different things and I will try to enjoy my new position.’’
He still has that drive to go as far as he can at every tournament, but surely there’s only so many he can be at his peak for these days.
‘‘I have motivation every week I play,’’ he said.
‘‘Of course, Auckland is different, because I have won it four times and for me this is special if I had the chance to win the tournament.
‘‘But I want to go step by step, it’s not my goal if I win or lose, it’s to play the first round against a new player and I’ll do my best.’’
In an effort to keep up with the youngsters, Ferrer says he’s looked to change how he plays. Running around, just trying to keep the ball in play, won’t work these days.
‘‘Tennis is changing every year, it’s improving, the evolution is very
important,’’ he said. ‘‘I know now I don’t have the same fitness, but I have to do different things, like play more aggressively in moments, improve the consistency with my serve.’’
Ferrer is also looking to keep the rallies shorter now, go for winners earlier and attack his opponent’s second serve. He’s trying to do that at the same time as being consistent, so it’s not an easy task.
When he plays in the first round against Wu Yibing, he’ll be up against someone ranked 307 in the world who was given a wildcard for the main draw, but who was recently the world No 1 junior.
‘‘I know that every match I play is going to be difficult. I have to be ready for a fight and focus on every point against Wu. But I don’t have pressure at this moment, I’m at a different stage of my career, so for me to be here is a gift and nothing else.’’
This could be Ferrer’s last appearance in Auckland; he’s not saying either way at the moment.
But for someone who’s been No 3 in the world and for a long time was regarded as the best player outside the big four, it is unusual to see him ranked below the likes of Pablo Cuevas, Fabio Fognini, Mischa Zverev and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
‘‘It’s normal [to be ranked 37]. I accept that, I’m 35-years-old, I have been in the top 10, top 20 for a lot of years and now I appreciate that. Maybe last year I was frustrated about my ranking, but now I am positive because I’m still motivated to improve my ranking and that’s important.’’