When David Ferrer was cast as a Chinese Terracotta Warrior by French sculptor Laury Dizengremel in the
build-up to the Masters Cup in Shanghai, the imposing likeness inspired him to produce
some of the most heroic and battling performances of his career. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal,
Richard Gasquet and Andy Roddick were no match for the doughty Spaniard as he sped around the court,
unleashing one ferocious blow after another. World number one Roger Federer put him to the sword
in the final, but a good start to his 2008 campaign could see Ferrer invade the world's top three
in the months to come.
Like his compatriot, Rafael Nadal, Ferrer has recently developed a taste for hard courts. He reached
the last four at the US Open and became the only other player on the ATP Tour, other than Nadal, to post
at least 20 wins on both clay and hard courts in the course of the year.
Ferrer grew up surrounded by tennis. His elder brother, Javier, now a coach, was a national junior
champion. David earned himself a sports scholarship in Barcelona but struggled to make the transition
from junior tennis to the professional circuit. His long-time coach, Javier Piles, resorted to extreme
measures to motivate his young charge. "When he didn't want to work I would lock him up in a dark room of
two by two metres and I would put a lock on it so he couldn't get out," admits Piles. "It was the room
where we would store the tennis balls. I would tell him that his working schedule was from 9 to 12 and that
if he didn't want to work he would remain there punished. I would give him a piece of bread and a bottle
of water through the bars of a small window. After a few minutes we would hear David asking other trainers
from the club for some help to get out but we wouldn't pay any attention."
"The room is still there in the club, full of tennis balls," says Ferrer. "I think I have been the only
tenant and Javier has never again threatened to put me back in. It was a very complicated stage in my life
because, being barely 17, you don't really know what you want. Javier did what he should, like when a
teacher punishes a student in school because of his bad behaviour. Deep down he just wants his best. Once
in there I didn't think much, I just wanted him to open the door so I could try to go train with more
strength." The experience helped to mould Ferrer into the toughest of competitors, a player who proves
the old adage that it's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters - it's the size of the fight
in the dog, as Piles explains: "He took Lleyton Hewitt as a role model, a player he admires and relates
to, due to their physical similarities. The sharpness of the Australian, his way of making a battle out
of each match, and his warrior attitude both in victory and defeat, reaffirmed the idea that that was the
only way to improve himself. I never again had to use the punishment room."
In 2005, Ferrer raised some eyebrows at the French Open when he rallied from 0-4 in the final set to beat
defending champion Gaston Gaudio in the fourth round before losing to eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
He had a solid season in 2006 and enhanced his reputation as one of the best returners in the game when he
reached the fourth round at Wimbledon. His swashbuckling performances in Shanghai suggest the real highlights
of his career are still to come.
Ferrer is a big fan of FC Barcelona and also enjoys reading books.
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