“Because of a certain Rafael Nadal,” David Ferrer laments on his ill luck at the Barcelona Open
Ferrer also wishes to improve the Barcelona Open as the newly-appointed tournament director
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David Ferrer is a former World No.3 who was regarded as a clay-court specialist, akin to the likes of Rafael Nadal. Ferrer has won 27 career titles and is a former Roland Garros finalist. He has won ATP tournaments on all levels but has not been able to clinch a major title. Ferrer retired from the sport in 2019.
Known for his proficiency on clay courts, the Spaniard has won 13 clay titles. In Barcelona, specifically, Ferrer reached the final four times but failed to win the title each time. It was none other than Nadal on the other side of the court to snatch the trophy from the aspirant. In a recent interview, Ferrer reminisced on his memories in Barcelona as he talked about his rivalry with Nadal.
Ferrer and Nadal have faced each other in many Tour finals. In a head-to-head tally, it is the 22-time Grand Slam champion who comes out on top. Ferrer has won only six matches against the clay maestro. In the interview, the Barcelona Open director spoke on his track record at the event, routinely hampered by Nadal.
From 2008-2012 (excluding 2010), Ferrer reached all the finals in Barcelona. However, like many, he was unable to defeat the indomitable Rafa. Ferrer has many childhood memories associated with the place. The 40-year-old commented on his losses at Barcelona, saying, “I was able to play four finals there. I never won because of a certain Rafa Nadal. But this tournament has always been in my heart.“
As the current director, Ferrer wishes to develop the tournament and make it more credible. For the three-time Davis Cup winner, the tournament is a ‘part of his life’. Ferrer stated, “Every time I’m there and now that I’m working on the tournament, I want it to evolve, improve and continue to be one of the top 500 tournaments on the ATP Tour.“
Rafael Nadal hopes to clinch another Barcelona Open title
In 2023, the Barcelona Open will celebrate its 70th anniversary, and Rafael Nadal, the competition’s most awarded participant, will be present. Nadal has previously collected 12 titles in Barcelona, and he hopes to increase that total in 2023. However, he will face the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, who is the defending champion and known for his outstanding skills on clay, synonymous with Nadal.
Other clay-court experts such as Stefanos Tsitsipas and Casper Ruud have also set eyes on the prize. Jannik Sinner, Francis Tiafoe, Daniil Medvedev, and Cameron Norrie are some of the other players in the fray. Nadal, who has dropped down to No.13 in the rankings, will hope to make a fruitful comeback after sustaining a hip injury in Melbourne.
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Tanisha Mohanty
(172 Articles Published)