David Ferrer : A new chapter for the old man?

Ferru, as he is called by his fans, is on the brink of a career defining moment. The Spanish warrior, wielding a racquet and donning a green attire, has glided his way into the semifinals at Roland Garros. This is not his first appearance at this stage, neither is it going to be his last. Yet, his entry into the last four stage assumes immense significance for his career as this is by far his best opportunity to grab a berth in the final of a Grand Slam tournament.

David Ferrer, the No. 5 ranked player in the world, denied fellow countryman Tommy Robredo the chance of continuing his dream run into the semis. Defeating Tommy may not seem a big feat,  but the four-time quarterfinalist is back on the tour with a new vigour after a prolonged absence due to injuries, and had clawed back from the brink of defeat to win his previous three matches.

After securing two-thirds of the match, it seemed impossible that Ferrer would let Robredo emulate his previous results. What followed was a completely Ferrer-dominated third set similar to the first two.

This courageous man has been improving his game and his performances for the past year or so. He was seen lifting the title at the Paris indoor Masters, his first such title, regaining the No. 4 ranking and notching up a few career best results. One could argue that he benefited from the absence of his more illustrious compatriot, but he did rise up to that challenge and filled in the shoes of Nadal admirably. Now, he has an opportunity to craft his own. A final appearance or  a win here would add oodles to his confidence.

His form throughout this tournament has been splendid. Though he seemed to be a bit off color in the first round, he exhibited his true class and form in the succeeding matches. His 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 wins over  Kevin Anderson and Tommy Robredo speak volumes about his form. His next challenger comes in the form of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who ousted second seed Roger Federer. Their head-to-head record reads 2-1 in favor of Ferrer.

Known to be one of the best returners in the game today, Ferrer possesses  the game and fitness to eject Tsonga from the draw. He is one of the highest ranked players who have failed to reach a single Grand Slam final. Last year, his inability to win a Masters final was highlighted by many of his critics as a black mark on his report card which boasts of a career-high ranking of number four. He did erase that blot, and now, he  gears up for another campaign to etch his name in the minds of tennis lovers and in the history books of tennis.

He is perhaps the most underrated player occupying the top echelons of tennis rankings. Sure, his lack of toughness on the big points has sometimes hampered his chances of scoring victories over higher ranked players. He let slip many chances in his quarterfinal clashes against Nadal in Madrid and Rome. But a large proportion of the tennis-watching populace will be hoping that he lets those thoughts slip away and gears up for an imminent clash against his conqueror from the previous two tournaments in the ultimate round where even if victory is elusive, he will gain respect and, most importantly, the confidence to record his best season on tour.

All the best Ferru!