Ferrer will retire this week (Picture: Getty Images)

David Ferrer’s career will draw to a close in Madrid this week as the plucky Spaniard prepares to hang up his racquet.

Often hailed as the greatest player to never win a Grand Slam, Ferrer can perhaps consider himself unfortunate to have played in the same era as the ‘Big Four’, although he insists that is not the case.

What is for sure, however, is the immense respect the 37-year-old commands from his peers on the ATP Tour.

A losing French Open finalist in 2013, Ferrer peaked at No. 3 in the rankings and was a part of three winning Davis Cup sides.




Assuming he doesn’t triumph at the Madrid Open this week – where he faces Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round – Ferrer will leave tennis with 27 titles to his name, with seven of those coming in a remarkable 2012 season in which he also won the Paris Masters.

David Ferrer career highlights Australian Open: SF (2011, 2013)

French Open: F (2013)

Wimbledon: QF (2012, 2013)

US Open: SF (2007, 2012) Tour finals: F (2007)

Davis Cup: W (2008, 2009, 2011) Total titles: 27

Career-high ranking: 3

Roger Federer shared a court with Ferrer on 17 occasions and paid a glowing tribute to the current world No. 144.

‘Yeah, look, I’m a big admirer of his work ethic and personality,’ Federer said at the Caja Magica. ‘Of course, also his success. But the person comes first and he’s – the guy has been so solid for the last 20 years. He’s always been the same guy and I have always appreciated that.

‘We’ve always had for the little we speak together, you know – or as much as we speak together – it’s always been one of a lot of respect and, obviously, we’ve had some good matches over the years. They all went my way – okay, fine. But I don’t see it the head-to-head that way, you know.

‘I see a guy – he’s at my level and I look to him eye-to-eye, you know. And so I’m happy for him that he was able to take the decision and really he seemed genuinely happy because he is also playing well now at the end of his career and he can go out on his terms and for any top athlete like he is, that is the dream, you know, that you can leave on your terms.

Federer has a lot of respect for Ferrer (Picture: Getty Images)

‘And I hope it is going to be a wonderful experience for him. I’m sure he will be a little torn in his heart that it’s coming to an end. But yet he’s going to feel the love from the people. And that was already a case in Barcelona as well when he played Rafa [Nadal] there and now again here in Madrid. It is going to be great.

‘He has all the respect from my side. He doesn’t need to prove himself anymore. And I just wish him all the very best for what is to come with his family and his future.’

Dominic Thiem echoed Federer’s sentiments and believes Ferrer’s career can be ranked among one of the best of all time.



‘His career is outstanding and I feel very sad that he’s stopping, but he really deserves it, he has one of the best careers ever, I would say,’ the Austrian world No. 5 said.

‘And for me it’s pretty special because I watch him on the television 10, 15 years ago, how he played all the big matches. And then three years ago, I played against him myself. I played against him two times. Was very, very nice experiences. And so I wish him only the best.

Thiem rates Ferrer’s career highly (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

‘He’s a great player, great guy. So tennis will miss him for sure.’

Juan Martin del Potro will certainly miss the 2007 ATP Finals runner-up and hailed him as one of the most likeable characters on the ATP Tour.

‘Yeah, one of the big players is retiring this week and one of the best lads that we have around the circuit and I have faced a lot of matches against him,’ the Argentine said.

‘And I am very happy to see him retiring in good shape, surrounded by his people, by his crowd, in a city like Madrid, in front of his wife, and I have good words towards him because of all of the good things that he has done in this tournament.

‘Because of his behaviour out of the court, I think he’s been an example for all of us. I just hope all the best for him in this new era of his life and we’re going to miss him a lot. Maybe not playing against him because he made you run a lot! It is always going to be a good chance to be close to him and he is a really nice lad.

Del Potro will miss his good friend Ferrer (Picture: Getty Images)

‘On the personal side, a friend is retiring because I consider him a friend, I just really like him and I, as I always said, I want all the best for him and he deserves it. Of course, he deserves everything that might come.’


Japan’s No. 1 Kei Nishikori is also sad to see one of his role models leaving the professional game.

He said: ‘Yeah, personally, maybe I shouldn’t say this, but very sad to see him retiring because he was the one, he was, like, for me, good, like, a good person to look up to, for me. He’s similar height.

‘The way he plays, you know. I was learning so many things from him and we played so many times and I learned so many stuff from him. So, maybe not for him but for me he was like, he was like my rival. So, it’s up to – not able to play against him anymore and play, I can’t see his tennis anymore, that’s a little bit sad.

‘But it is incredible what he did, his career, you know, playing the top level for a long time. I don’t think anybody did that before. So, yeah, very sad to see. But it was great. I think he had a great career.’