Ferrer excited to play in Abu Dhabi Championship

Gritty Spanish baseliner David Ferrer believes the Abu Dhabi Mubadala World Tennis Championship is among the very best pre-Australian Open events in the world.

By Rituraj Borkakoty (rituraj@khaleejtimes.com)

Published: Mon 23 Dec 2013, 11:01 AM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 6:53 PM

Ferrer is set to enthrall tennis lovers in Abu Dhabi. — Getty Images

Ferrer, the world number three and the 2013 French Open runner-up, will be among six top players that will enthrall tennis lovers in Abu Dhabi from December 26 to December 28 at the Mubadala championship.

Apart from Ferrer, world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain, world number two Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Great Britain’s world number four Andy Murray will also be in action. Stanislas Wawrinka (world number 8) of Switzerland and hard-hitting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (world number 10) complete the line-up. “Yes, it’s important for us (the players). It also gives us a chance to play the best players in the world,” Ferrer said on Sunday while talking to reporters.

“It’s one of the very important pre-Australian Open events. Then there are the events in Auckland and Doha.” Ferrer, who first broke into the top 10 of world tennis in 2006, reached his career high ranking of three in July 2013. He also achieved his best Grand Slam record of his life in 2013 when he reached French Open final — a match he lost to his countryman and his Davis Cup teammate Nadal, the king of clay. Yet, the Spaniard doesn’t believe 2013 was his best year.

“Yes, I reached the French final in 2013. I also became world number three. So 2013 was my best season. But I believe I have played my best tennis in 2012. I won many tournaments and also won my first ATP 1000 Masters Tournament, which was really special. In 2012 I was more comfortable with my game.

“I hope to play at a similar level in 2014,” said the 31-year-old player. “But it’s nice to be among the top three players. I have been a top 10 players for some years now. My aim has always been to play my best tennis against the best players in the world. Also reaching Grand Slam finals is such a difficult thing to do. Of course, it gives me the motivation to keep playing at a high level.”

Ferrer’s first opponent in Abu Dhabi on December 26 will be the man who beat him in his last match of the last season — Wawrinka. But the mild mannered player says revenge is not on his mind. “No it has never been about any revenge for me on tennis courts. I will just try to play my best tennis again.”