Lopez Pays a Brilliant Tribute to David Ferrer

After 20 long years on the ATP Tour, David Ferrer has decided to hang up his racquet this season. The 36-year-old will be playing a few tournaments before the Madrid Masters in front of the family and friends. Ferrer, a former world no. 3 has participated in more than 1000 ATP matches. In the process, he has reached 52 ATP finals and lifted 27 titles, including the Paris Masters in 2012.

However, Ferrer has been struggling to find his form in the last couple of years. He even dropped out from the top-100 for the first time in 16 years in August 2018. Now, he is preparing his retirement in the first half of 2019 after playing in some of his favourite events before Madrid.

Feliciano Lopez, Madrid Open tournament director and a player himself, praised his compatriot. He recognized him as one of the greatest Spanish players ever and was delighted when David decided to choose Madrid as his last stop in a fantastic career.

Lopez and Ferrer have known each other for more than two decades, competing for the first time together back in Doha 2002 and also at London Olympics where they just missed the medal. Madrid is probably the best possible event for David to retire, playing there right from the first edition in 2003 and skipping the home Masters only once after that.

“David is one of the most important tennis players of our country, with a career that can’t be framed, but more than anything, he is an exceptional person, one of the best that I have met on the circuit,” said Lopez.

“I have shared many years with him and I can say that it has been a great pleasure. It is an honor for us that he is going to play the last tournament of his career at the Mutua Madrid Open. I’m sure it will be an emotional retirement for him at home event and in front of his beloved ones who have vibrated with his fighting spirit and passion.

Ferrer can go and retire peacefully because he has given everything that he could have in all these years.”