David Ferrer is no longer often seen in the limelight of the tennis circuit. Even after a long time, the long runner now has to say goodbye to the top 50 of the world rankings.
Are the times of the endurance package and the tireless runner David Ferrer on the ATP tour gradually coming to an end? I guess so.
After an injured 2017 season, the Spaniard returned to the tour this year, but is lagging behind his old form and liveliness. Now the permanent rival of Rafael Nadal and Co. has to accept the next setback. Ferrer will no longer be among the top 50 players in the world next Monday. This marks the end of an era.
The Spaniard will not be able to defend his title in Bastad due to the second round defeat against the young Norwegian Casper Ruud and thus continues to lose ground in the ranking. For Ferrer, it will be the worst ranking since February 2005, ending 702 weeks in the Top 50.
In 2018, the man from Xabia only won nine matches and had to say goodbye early, especially at the Grand Slam tournaments. Ferrer suffered an opening defeat in Wimbledon when he lost to the Russian Karen Khachanov in four sets.
Ferrer won 27 titles in his career and celebrated an incredible 725 victories on the Tour. The endurance runner also took part in more than 50 finals, including the final of the French Open 2013.
What the next steps of the former third in the world rankings will be is uncertain. The role of the beaten off ex-top player does not do justice to the likeable and always fair Spaniard.