David Ferrer has been a constant figure in the world’s top-10 for most of the past eight years, cementing his status as one of the best of this generation, yet when you discuss the Olympics with the tireless Spaniard, he does not take for granted the fact that he will actually be there.
Spain is the most-represented country in the world’s top-100, with 15 players enjoying that status in the ATP rankings, and Ferrer knows he must world hard for the first half of the season to make sure he is one of the best four Spaniards in the charts to secure a spot at the Rio Games in August.
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At 33, Ferrer has competed in the last two Olympic Games in London 2012 and Beijing 2008, and considering his success in Latin America – he has won eight titles there throughout his career – the world No7 admits Rio next year is a big goal for him.
Known as one of the hardest-working players on tour, Ferrer is used to playing a full schedule each season but he says that in 2016, he might actually lighten the load to be fresh for the Olympics.
“Yes maybe this year I will play less tournaments. Of course the Olympic Games is a goal for me because – I’m not sure – but maybe it’s going to be my last Olympic Games and I want to be there. So maybe in the one month before the Olympics maybe I’ll play only one tournament,” Ferrer told reporters yesterday at Yas Mall, where he met fans and signed autographs ahead of his opening match in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship today.
Asked whether he plans on playing more than one event in Rio, Ferrer said: “First I have to be there. To play the Olympic Games I have to be one of the top four Spanish players. Now I am No2 (behind Rafael Nadal) but it depends – I think the cut-off is in Roland Garros – so for me the goal is to play the Olympic Games. Of course singles is my first option. It’s difficult to play doubles because this year I’ll be focused only on singles.”
Ferrer thinking about taking a helicopter ride today in Abu Dhabi. @TheRealPatCash asks him who’s riding shotgun? pic.twitter.com/BSDsfYuBRY
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) December 30, 2015
Set to make his fifth appearance in Abu Dhabi, Ferrer comes to the UAE capital for the first time as a married man having tied the knot last month to long-time girlfriend Marta Tornel.
The Javea native says he has no plans whatsoever to retire from the game any time soon – “now I am No7 in the world so when you’re playing with the best tennis in the world or I am top-10 I don’t want to retire. I enjoy playing tennis and I’m enjoying both my professional and personal lives so I am not thinking about retirement,” he explains, and says he’s feeling more motivated than ever especially after being sidelined for two and a half months with an injury last season.
A rare situation for Ferrer, an elbow injury forced him out of Wimbledon in 2015 and he didn’t play a match between for nine weeks between Nottingham and the US Open.
“It was difficult because it was my first time to be injured for two and a half months. It was difficult because I couldn’t play tennis, I couldn’t play good tournaments, but I worked hard with my physio and my fitness and I came back playing good, better for the end of the season. So I learned one thing about injuries and now I’m more passionate about the game,” says the Valenica resident.
Ferrer will be joined by his fellow Spaniard Nadal in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Following a sub-par season for Nadal in 2015, where he experienced a dip in form and lack of confidence, which led to uncharacteristic defeats, Ferrer is certain his compatriot will be back to his best in 2016.
“Rafael maybe last year it wasn’t his best one but he finished No5 in the world and the last two months he played good tennis. I think Rafael this year he’s going to be fighting to be No1 and will win more grand slams, I have confidence in that,” assured Ferrer.
Ferrer, a two-time Abu Dhabi runner-up, will open his MWTC campaign on Thursday against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga with the winner moving on to face Nadal on Friday.
