David Ferrer did not drop a set in reaching his first Grand Slam final—and did not win a set in the French Open finale. The result returned Ferrer to the Top 4, while reinforcing his vulnerability against the Big Four: He has lost 10 consecutive matches to Top-5 ranked opponents. Several of the Spaniard’s strengths play well on grass. Ferrer’s aggressive court positioning, penetrating return and his signature shot, the forehand, have helped him take down heavier hitters in posting a .708 career winning percentage on grass with two titles. His grit sometimes earns more acclaim than his game, but Ferrer takes great care in executing the fundamentals. He’s failed to survive the fourth round in nine of 10 appearances at SW19, but he beat Andy Roddick and Juan Martin del Potro in succession to reach the 2012 Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Why He’ll Win:
Ferrer pressures opponents with his accurate return: He leads the ATP in return games won (40%) in 2013. He should be empowered arriving in SW19 fresh off his first major final.
Why He Won’t:
Ferrer has lost 10 straight to Top 5 foes and is a combined 9-44 against former Wimbledon champions Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, all of whom can overpower the 5-foot-9 Spaniard.
Bottom Line:
Ferrer can win on every surface and will be a quarterfinal candidate again. But he lacks the imposing weapon to beat the elite in a title run.
Click on each player's photo to see our thoughts on their Wimbledon prospects.