2015 Preview: ATP No. 10, David Ferrer

Here we are, once again, with a familiar question hanging over Ferrer’s head: Can he win a major to cap a career based on unrelenting effort but, alas, a tendency to come up short when all the chips are on the table?

Something similar could also be said to describe Ferrer’s 2014 season, in which workmanlike excellence never did translate into the seismic win so many had either predicted or hoped for. He went 1-3 in finals, the most significant loss against Roger Federer at the Cincinnati Masters. Ferrer went just 1-7 against Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, although his win over Rafa in Monte Carlo was certainly significant.

This also was a year when fissures appeared in the game of the hardest working man in tennis. He took surprisingly bad losses relatively early in many tournaments. Ferrer turned 32 in April, and that helps explain the erosion of his legendary consistency. This is a pivotal season for “The Little Beast.”

At this point in his career, it would be a net plus for Ferrer to cut back on his traditionally loaded schedule. His inconsistency suggests that as he ages, he needs to pick his spots with greater care. If he does that, he’ll have a better chance to add another Masters title to his resume.

The surprising loses Ferrer took in 2014 strike an ominous note. He plays an effortful game that requires implacable focus and mental stamina—qualities that become harder to sustain with age. He could plummet down the rankings if he begins to break down.

Over the past four years, Ferrer has reached at least the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. How he does in Melbourne this year may tell us a lot about what lies in store for not only 2015, but beyond.

For more 2015 season previews, click here.