Eyewitness News: David Ferrer's spirit falters

Reuters | 25 January 2013
MELBOURNE - David Ferrer has won 19 titles and reached the semi-finals in three of the last five grand slams, yet for all his success, the Spaniard seems further away than ever from claiming one of the sport's major prizes.

"I am trying to do my best every match," the world number five lamented. "But I know they are better than me. What can I do?"

Ferrer's honest assessment came after a 6-2 6-2 6-1 demolition at the hands of world number one Novak Djokovic led to his latest grand slam semi-final failure at the Australian Open on Thursday.

Djokovic's dominant performance provided yet more evidence that there is a growing "us versus them" divide on the men's professional circuit.

Although Ferrer will replace the injured Rafa Nadal at number four when the new rankings are released on Monday, everyone knows that Djokovic, Roger Federer, Nadal and Andy Murray have set themselves apart from the rest.

"You have three tours," former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic told a small group of reporters.

"One for the top four, then a second with Ferrer, (Juan Martin) Del Potro, (Tomas) Berdych and (Jo-Wilfried) Tsonga... and then a tour for the rest of the guys," the Croatian added.

"It's kind of funny. We all know who's going to be in the semis and finals, more or less. I would like to see one of these guys... Tsonga, Berdych or Del Potro maybe stepping in and doing some damage but it's too hard."

Murray's US Open victory last September made him only the fourth man other than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic to win a grand slam title since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003.

In the 37 slams since, including this one, Gaston Gaudio, Marat Safin and Juan Martin Del Potro are the only players that have been able to muscle their way into the exclusive club.

Ferrer is one of the most respected players on tour and is regarded as one of the toughest nuts to crack due to his consistency and superior fitness.

However, when it comes to playing the big boys, he is found wanting, time and again.

"It is difficult to reach even one grand slam final," he admitted.

"Sometimes it does not depend on me, it depends on my opponent. When I made the semi-finals at Roland Garros, at the Australian Open and at the US Open, I lost to the best three players."

The chasing pack have all had their moments, with Tsonga and Berdych both beating Federer to make grand slam semi-finals last year.

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David Ferrer's spirit falters

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