Valencia Open 500 Final: Ferrer v. Youzhny

[Moxie]

Who wins?

 

[Riotbeard]

Ferrer picks up his first title of the year.

 

[Moxie]

I hadn't realized he hadn't won a title all year. I have said that I think 2014 will see him sinking, but he has certainly been sharp in Valencia. Home tourney...I think he'll pull it off.

 

[herios]

Ferrer picks up his first title of the year.

Did you mean his first 500 title of the year perhaps? He has got 2 already

 

[herios]

I hadn't realized he hadn't won a title all year. I have said that I think 2014 will see him sinking, but he has certainly been sharp in Valencia. Home tourney...I think he'll pull it off.

I am surprised that you cannot remember that Ferrer got some titles this year. And I am not convinced in Ferrer sinking next year, just because Federer did at the same age. From a stamina point of view, Ferrer is not your regular athlete, he will age later, as he just hit his peak at 31, it will take some time till he will slow down.
It has become more of a wishful thinking of all the posters rooting against him. I hope he stays strong (top 5) next year.

 

[Moxie]

I was falling for someone else's stats. He won Buenos Aires, and ATP says one other, but I can figure out which one.

You know I am a huge fan of Ferrer, and so I'm not in the camp of those who would see him fall. I would be perfectly happy to see him stay top 5 next year. I'm just wondering how long it will last. He was looking vulnerable over the last few months, and now he's looking stellar again. I hope that carries into next year. He could still be top 5-6 next year.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Ferrer is indeed a living legend. No wall has ever been stronger at his age.

 

[herios]

I was falling for someone else's stats. He won Buenos Aires, and ATP says one other, but I can figure out which one.

You know I am a huge fan of Ferrer, and so I'm not in the camp of those who would see him fall. I would be perfectly happy to see him stay top 5 next year. I'm just wondering how long it will last. He was looking vulnerable over the last few months, and now he's looking stellar again. I hope that carries into next year. He could still be top 5-6 next year.

Auckland is the other one. I know you are a Ferrer fan, that is why I was surprised to see you could not recall his wins. Why I think he will last longer at the peak than others is because he has the development of a long distance runner (which he excels at, according to the reports I read),
Those athletes are still improving around 30 and will slow down around mid thirties.

 

[Riotbeard]

I was falling for someone else's stats. He won Buenos Aires, and ATP says one other, but I can figure out which one.

You know I am a huge fan of Ferrer, and so I'm not in the camp of those who would see him fall. I would be perfectly happy to see him stay top 5 next year. I'm just wondering how long it will last. He was looking vulnerable over the last few months, and now he's looking stellar again. I hope that carries into next year. He could still be top 5-6 next year.

Auckland is the other one. I know you are a Ferrer fan, that is why I was surprised to see you could not recall his wins. Why I think he will last longer at the peak than others is because he has the development of a long distance runner (which he excels at, according to the reports I read),
Those athletes are still improving around 30 and will slow down around mid thirties.

Oops. Forgot about those. I had been a little into the drink when I wrote that.:celeb:

 

[El Dude]

Just a slight nitpick to herios - Ferrer didn't hit his peak at age 31, unless you are just talking about his very best year, which is this year. But he was playing at a similar level last year, which he started at age 29, turning 30 in April when the season was well under way. When you take into account Federer's great diminished performance in 2013, Ferrer's slightly better results in 2013 aren't really any better overall than 2012.

My guess is that Ferrer maintains this level for about another year, maybe two, so we'll look at 2012-14 or 2015 as his peak (30-33), making it one of the latest peaks in recent memory.

 

[El Dude]

A note on Mikhail Youzhny. Looking at his record, I was surprised to see that he has only won a single ATP 500 (or higher) tournament - out of his 9 total titles (8 being ATP 250) - against Ivan Ljubicic in Rotterdam in 2007. He is 1-5 in ATP 500 finals overall, having lost Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Tsonga and Soderling (tough crowd!).

For much of his career, Youzhny has been what I would call a "third tier player" - someone who spends most of his career in the top 40, and much of it in the top 20 - similar to a Juan Monaco or Gilles Simon, but below a Tommy Robredo (in his prime), Tsonga or Ferrer, and just a bit below a Richard Gasquet (who is like a "tier 2.5" player). He finished one year, 2010, at #10, three other years in the top 20, and seven other years ending between #24 and #43. He's made it to two Slam SFs and four QFs, although interestingly enough has never made it past the QF of an ATP 1000. He is one of the few remaining players of "Generation Federer" that are still playing near their peak level, and has been very consistent for over a decade. A player to appreciate.

 

[Moxie]

Youzhny up the early break.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Congrads!!

 

[herios]

Just a slight nitpick to herios - Ferrer didn't hit his peak at age 31, unless you are just talking about his very best year, which is this year. But he was playing at a similar level last year, which he started at age 29, turning 30 in April when the season was well under way. When you take into account Federer's great diminished performance in 2013, Ferrer's slightly better results in 2013 aren't really any better overall than 2012.

I agree that he has a peak which is continuous for about 2 years 2012-13, so you can extend it through his 29-31 age.
Still his best accomplishments, GS finalist and ranked #3 came when he was already 31. He is unique in that matter. Can you find another player who hit his highest ranking and top GS result post 30??
I doubt it.

 

[herios]

Great result by Misha!.
Mission accomplished for Haychew

 

[Riotbeard]

Just a slight nitpick to herios - Ferrer didn't hit his peak at age 31, unless you are just talking about his very best year, which is this year. But he was playing at a similar level last year, which he started at age 29, turning 30 in April when the season was well under way. When you take into account Federer's great diminished performance in 2013, Ferrer's slightly better results in 2013 aren't really any better overall than 2012.

I agree that he has a peak which is continuous for about 2 years 2012-13, so you can extend it through his 29-31 age.
Still his best accomplishments, GS finalist and ranked #3 came when he was already 31. He is unique in that matter. Can you find another player who hit his highest ranking and top GS result post 30??
I doubt it.

He got his lone masters shield in 2012 though, which probably pretty close to the FO final.

 

[I.Haychew]

Hell Yeahzhny! What an unexpected, and pleasant, surprise!

 

[Moxie]

Hell Yeahzhny! What an unexpected, and pleasant, surprise!

I was thinking about you, friend. Excellent win for Mikhail. You can see the news item I posted about it here. It's a been a renaissance year for Youzhny.

 

[El Dude]

Just a slight nitpick to herios - Ferrer didn't hit his peak at age 31, unless you are just talking about his very best year, which is this year. But he was playing at a similar level last year, which he started at age 29, turning 30 in April when the season was well under way. When you take into account Federer's great diminished performance in 2013, Ferrer's slightly better results in 2013 aren't really any better overall than 2012.

I agree that he has a peak which is continuous for about 2 years 2012-13, so you can extend it through his 29-31 age.
Still his best accomplishments, GS finalist and ranked #3 came when he was already 31. He is unique in that matter. Can you find another player who hit his highest ranking and top GS result post 30??
I doubt it.

Probably not. The one player that came to mind was Ivo Karlovic. I looked it up and while he had his best Grand Slam result at age 30 (QF at the 2009 Wimbledon), his highest ranking (#14) was the year before - but he's close!

 

[Moxie]

Just a slight nitpick to herios - Ferrer didn't hit his peak at age 31, unless you are just talking about his very best year, which is this year. But he was playing at a similar level last year, which he started at age 29, turning 30 in April when the season was well under way. When you take into account Federer's great diminished performance in 2013, Ferrer's slightly better results in 2013 aren't really any better overall than 2012.

I agree that he has a peak which is continuous for about 2 years 2012-13, so you can extend it through his 29-31 age.
Still his best accomplishments, GS finalist and ranked #3 came when he was already 31. He is unique in that matter. Can you find another player who hit his highest ranking and top GS result post 30??
I doubt it.

He got his lone masters shield in 2012 though, which probably pretty close to the FO final.

I think Ferrer's "peak" is a little hard to peg, though I agree with the last 2 years. He has an unusual trajectory. Remember that is 2007 he finished the year at #5, won Auckland, Bstaad, Tokyo, and played Federer in the finals of the YEC.

He was also in the finals of the YEC in 2011. His 2012: He won: Auckland, BA, Acapulco, 's-Hertogenbosch, Bstaad, Valencia and Paris-Bercy. I would argue this was his most powerful year.

While in 2013 he did finish in his first ever Slam final (RG,) and reached his highest ever ranking (#3,) I think that was a feature of the topsy-turvy nature of the top 5 in the rankings. IMO, his 2012 was better for him, personally, and I'm not sure he'll see a better year than that.