Ferrer back in Auckland and has sights set on fifth title
David Ferrer knows his career is winding down, but he has vowed to keep returning to New Zealand for as long as he continues playing.
The 34-year-old, who for so long was seen as the best player in the world outside of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, is back at the ASB Classic for the 12th time in his career.
He’s won this tournament four times and when the stadium is rebuilt in a couple of years, Tennis Auckland could do worse than name a stand after the Spaniard.
‘‘It’s good for me to come back to one of my favourite tournaments,’’ Ferrer said yesterday. ’’I hope I’ll play for a few more years, but I know that every year I’m playing, I’ll start the year in Auckland.’’
Ferrer is still passionate about his tennis and feels there’s more for him to win, but he’s also keen on savouring the last few years of what’s been an incredible career, during which he’s won 26 titles and picked up $42.7 million of prize money along the way.
‘‘I’m now here with my wife, it’s her first time here, my first year here (was) in 2003 and now it’s 2017,’’ he said.
‘‘So I have very good memories and I like playing here a lot. I hope the people still enjoy my game and I hope I’ll have a good result here.
‘‘For me the thing that’s most difficult is the travel, having to take so many planes. But once I’m at the tournament I’m happy.
‘‘I like the competition and I’m trying to choose my favourite tournaments (to play), or I travel with my close friends or my wife, so we can enjoy these moments and see the cities.
‘‘Of course, I am focused on my job, but I am trying to have other things while I’m still motivated for tennis.’’
He acknowledges 2016 wasn’t a great year and this year hasn’t started too well, with a loss to Australian Jordan Thompson in the second round in Brisbane.
‘‘I finished the season at 21, the last five or six years I’d finished it in the top 10. But I’m 34 years old and it’s not easy,’’ he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
‘‘But I still enjoy playing tennis and I’m trying to improve my ranking. But I’m going step by step and I want to focus on every tournament.
The 18 years on the circuit have taken a toll on Ferrer’s body and he says he’s had to alter his training, so that there is more stretching and less running involved.
‘‘I know my recovery is more important now,’’ he said. ’’The physio is important and I’m trying to take care of my body and myself.’’
He remains the joint record holder, with Roy Emerson, of titles at the Auckland tournament, but Ferrer last lifted the trophy in 2013. It would be one of his last great achievements if he could win the Classic one more time and hold the record outright.
‘‘I’ll try. I’m in the second round because I have a bye,’’ he said. ‘‘Of course, I’m motivated to win the tournament, I always have that and I’ve won here four times, but also I know that every year it’s going to be more difficult to win in Auckland, but I will try, I will fight to be in the final rounds.’’