Season in review: After plunging from No. 3 in the world to 10th during the 2014 campaign and missing the World Tour Finals (he played one match at alternate), Ferrer had to be considered an underdog for London when this season began with the Spaniard approaching his 33rd birthday in early April. As he often does, however, Ferrer made a mockery of diminished expectations and is rolling into the 02 despite having missed two months this summer–including London–because of an elbow injury. The world No. 7 captured five titles, including a trio of 500-pointers in Rio de Janeiro, Acapulco, and Vienna. He also opened the year by winning arguably the biggest of all 250s in Doha. Ferrer did not fare quite as well at the most important tournaments, but he at least reached one Masters 1000 semifinals (Rome) and three other Masters 1000 quarters in addition to a quarterfinal performance at the French Open.
2015 record: 55-13
Fall record (post-U.S. Open): 17-3
Best tournament: Acapulco title
d. Igor Sijsling 6-3, 7-6(4)
d. Marinko Matosevic 7-6(3), 6-4
d. Bernard Tomic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
d. Ryan Harrison 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
d. Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-5
Biggest win at different tournament: d. Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5 in Doha final
World Tour Finals appearances: 6
World Tour Finals record: 8-11
Best World Tour Finals result: Runner-up (2007)
Record against other World Tour Finals qualifiers: 36-85
vs. Novak Djokovic: 5-16
vs. Andy Murray: 6-11
vs. Roger Federer: 0-16
vs. Stan Wawrinka: 7-6
vs. Rafael Nadal: 6-23
vs. Tomas Berdych: 8-5
vs. Kei Nishikori: 4-8
Quotable: “It’s been an unbelievable season, winning five titles and it’s great to be playing well…. It’s an honor to be back in London and be amongst the best players in the world once again. It’s been a great season for me and I really look forward to the tournament.”
Outlook: The elbow injury may have turned out to be somewhat of a blessing in disguise for Ferrer, who returned from his layoff well-rested and quite simply on fire. He is 19-4 since his comeback began and 17-3 in 20 contests during this fall swing. What is concerning for Ferrer, of course, is the competition level. The seventh seed cleaned up at smaller tournaments in 2015 but routine losses to Djokovic (Beijing) and Murray (Paris) were indicative of his struggles against the world’s best–whom he will obviously be up against in London. Although Ferrer is a respectable 8-11 lifetime at the year-end championship, he is winless in his last four London matches.
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Hey Ricky,
David won 3 500 points event including newly upgraded Vienna just last month
Good point!