Following many consistent seasons inside the world’s top 10, are injuries starting to affect David Ferrer?
David Ferrer is an accomplished and consistent player, in fact many young juniors would take his career right now. The Spaniard has won a masters 1000 event, he has reached the final of a grand slam and has reached as high as number three in the ATP World Tour rankings. He is one of the most consistent players on the tour, rarely losing to players below him in the rankings and winning 26 career titles.
However since having an elbow injury last summer, he hasn’t been capable of the same form and has become inconsistent with his results. Yes inconsistent, a word you would not associate with the 34 year old Spaniard. Victories that Ferrer has had, have not been against players ranked inside the top twenty at that time. He has also not reached a single final in 2016, he had reached at least one final a season for the last 10 seasons before this season. Furthermore he has now dropped outside the world’s top 20 for the first time since July, 2009. This raises questions about his mental fortitude and his physical stability. So has he played too much tennis over the last few years?
Fatigue?
David Ferrer is the perfect example of someone playing too much tennis, without knowing the consequences. The Spaniard has played just over 1000 matches in his career, compare that to Andy Murray who has played around 800 matches in his career. He has had a consistent career but there is a difference between consistent and exceptional. Murray has been sensible with his choices over his career and played tournaments when he needed to. Look at his landmark accomplishments that he has achieved in his career:
- New world number one
- Three time grand slam champion
- Two time Olympic gold medalist
- Davis Cup winner
If you compare that to Ferrer it is average and mediocre, as I mentioned anyone playing the game and wanting to make that next step will take Ferrer’s career any day of the week. However there is a difference between being sensible and winning trophies compared to playing too much tennis and having a consistent career without winning a major trophy. This is now showing in Ferrer’s game as he is now having ocurring injuries and not playing his 100% best when needed to. As a result his base level of play and form has become inconsistent. Furthermore, you look at players like Dominic Thiem and worry if the same pattern will emerge in his game, as he has had an amazing season but is now running on fumes towards the end of his season. If Thiem wants to win majors, we all hope that he doesn’t follow in the footsteps of David Ferrer and is intelligent with what tournaments he plays.
To conclude, David Ferrer has had an extremely consistent career with many successes and triumphs. However he has now paying for it, late on in his career with injuries leading to form becoming inconsistent. Has he got the physical stamina and the mental toughness to have one last push at a grand slam? It is hard to see it happening the way he is continuing and the way the younger generation is continuing to counteract his defensive style of play. However with an ageing ATP World Tour anything is possible. The main lesson for a younger player to learn is to not burn out too early, otherwise there will be no light left for the end of your career.
