Ferrer Steps Up to Defend His Spot

Written by: Tennischiro on 28th March 2012

Ferrer Steps Up to Defend His Spot

epa03162030 David Ferrer of Spain returns the ball to Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina during their match at the Sony Ericsson Open on Key Biscayne, Florida, USA, 27 March 2012. EPA/RHONA WISE |

I thought Juan Martin Del Potro had clearly established himself this year as the best candidate for next in line after the Big Four with two victories over Tsonga and one decisive one over Berdych. He came into the Miami with an 18-4 record going back to the Australian Open with those 4 losses all courtesy of Roger Federer. He had a 19-5 record for the year having lost in the second round to Baghdatis in an Aussie Open warmup event. But last night he ran into the buzz saw that is David Ferrer. Ferrer came into Miami with a 19-2 record with his only losses to Djokovic at the Australian and a bad loss to Istomin at Indian Wells, but with 3 tournament trophies for his trouble.

Ferrer showed that he is clearly a force to be reckoned with. In rallies that put to shame some of the tennis that was played earlier in the day, David showed that he can absorb even the biggest blows and still administer serious punishment of his own. He matched Del Potro shot for shot despite often being forced to run nearly twice the distance and three times as many steps as the tall Argentine on many points. Ferrer made more winners than unforced errors. Statistically, it was a rout. The 9″ shorter Spaniard even hit more aces than Juan Martin.

Clearly, I was wrong. Ferrer deserves his place as number 5 and will continue to force the players ahead of him to play their best tennis to hold their positions above him. He’ll have a day of rest before he offers the next examination for Djokovic in the quarters. Likewise, Mardy Fish will have a day off before he takes on Juan Monaco who dispatched a depleted Andy Roddick. Andy had to come back from a tough 3-set victory over Federer. He admitted he simply wasn’t in good enough shape, but he has been unable to practice and train to the extent necessary to establish that kind of fitness. He felt the good thing was that he felt he was free of his injury and would finally be able to start training in earnest. He can get most, or at least enough of, that fitness back in a few weeks and he should be in great shape by the time the grass season rolls around. But I am still concerned by the fact that he was only able to earn 59% of his first serve points in the first set against Monaco.

I didn’t get to see everything today, but I watched quite a bit of Fish and Roddick’s matches as well as all of the Ferrer/Del Potro match. Ferrer and Del Potro looked like the Major Leagues compared to High School ball when you consider how hard they were hitting their groundstokes, and in extended rallies. Mardy is not going to move quite like Ferrer, but he could certainly benefit from trying to emulate the point-by-point, shot-by-shot intensity and focus that David brings to the match. Fish had his match all but wrapped up against Almagro in the second set and was within a couple of swings of being up a set and two breaks late in the second. Mardy definitely has an entirely different style from Ferrer which makes him look much more nonchalant than he really is. Watch him recover from corners instead of watching the ball and you’ll see his level of effort. It’s substantial. But then watch the energizer bunny that is David Ferrer and you get a whole different impression of what recovery can be. I know appearances can be deceiving, but I think so much can be learned from really studying Ferrer’s movement. You may not be able to replicate it, but you will be inspired to try and move better. And Mardy needs to be inspired to eliminate those lapses that are costing him. He won 51/53 points on his first serve against Almagro and broke him once each set, but because of a couple of lapses, the match was in jeopardy well into the third set. Almagro is a good player. To be that tough on him tells you a lot about Mardy’s weapons. If he can find a way to focus positively just a little better, maybe he can indeed extend his time among the second five in the rankings. He has a great chance here to reach the semis of another Masters1000 with a win over Monaco. Perhaps Mark Knowles can show him how to calm down that forehand of his and drive through it a little more simply. Oh how I wish they would come see me! (Mardy, next time you are home. I will even come to you.) But most of all, he has to have laser like focus to advance to the last rounds of these events. He appears to be healthy again. I really want to see style he plays maintained and propagated. So here’s hoping he finds that focus.

Two other important examinations are to be administered on Wednesday. Murray has to step up and show he is worthy of that spot among the “Big Four” by dealing with a surging Janko Tipsarevic. Janko is playing well and handled Nalbandian(avenging last week’s loss) and Dimitrov with considerable aplomb as well as surviving a good challenge from Dolgopolov. Murray should have enough matches under his belt now to be ready for the erudite Serb. But anyone who considers Tolstoi light reading is not about to be put off by a challenge from Scotland. Janko owes Andy for letting him take his place in last year’s Tour Championships in London; but he also owes him for not letting him take his place until it was almost impossible for him to qualify for the semifinals (which he nearly did anyway).

The other men’s quarterfinal on Wednesday is between Nadal and Tsonga. Tsonga came into Indian Wells looking to me like he had lost 10 to 15 lbs. since the Australian and ready to do serious damage, but, watching him in person, he seemed almost too energized. If he has settled into the newfound quickness and endurance that the weight loss could mean for him, he may be ready to mount another assault on the hallowed ground of the top 4. Nadal had to ask for the trainer during his match against Nishikori, but he appears to be firing on all cylinders again. Tsonga won their most recent match at the World Tour Finals, but Nadal was hurting. Shortly before that, Nadal won a more important (certainly to Nadal) Davis Cup match.

So the exams:

Wednesday:
Murray vs Tipsarevic: Andy, do you really belong in that top 4?

Nadal vs Tsonga: Jo Wilfred, does that sleek new frame mean anything, or is it just a fashion statement like that Mohawk haircut?

Thursday:
Djokovic vs Ferrer: Nole, you’ve been falling off the track a bit lately. Are you ready to tell the “little engine that could” that he can’t!?

Monaco vs Fish: Mardy, this is the first good tournament you’ve had since you defaulted to Monaco in the 3rd in Paris after being up a set and a break with victory almost in hand. If you had finished that second set off cleanly, you might never have done the damage that plagued you the last 4 1/2 months. If you get the chance to finish the only remaining man from Tandil off, do it. Don’t hesitate. Just do it!

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Topics: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, Baghdatis, David Ferrer, Janko Tipsarevic, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Mardy Fish, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sony Ericsson Open, Thomas Berdych