The Spaniard, the top seed at the Sept 22-30 event, won in Tokyo five years ago by overcoming French No 1 Richard Gasquet but lost in the Beijing final in 2010.The 30-year-old, a semi-finalist at the recent French Open and a quarter-finalist in Wimbledon, has won more matches than any other player on the tour. It will be histhird visit to Kuala Lumpur, his last being in 2010, where he reached the semi-finals.
“I’ve not won many tournament in Asia. I just want to play as good as I can in KL,” Ferrer told Timesport recently.
Ferrer has been in superb form since the start of the season, having clinched his fifth title at the Swedish Open after victories in s-Hertogenbosch, Acapulco, Buenos Aires and Auckland.
On his secret behind his great season, Ferrer said: “Every player is different. There are many fit players on the tour and I just try to improve my game to keep up with them. I am just having a regular season. I believe the best of me will come soon,” said Ferrer, who has won 16 titles since turning professional in 2000.
Despite the encouraging season, Ferrer failed to transfer his winning form to the on-going London Olympics, losing to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in an epic third-round match and finishing fourth in the doubles.
Ferrer, whose brother Javier was a former junior champion in Spain, also loves to read during his free time.
“I love reading because it helps me to relax. I have a huge collection of books,” said Ferrer, who resides in Valencia.
On his goals, he said he hopes to break into the top-four bracket before the end of the season It will be tough for him to achieve this as the world’s top four — Switzerland’s Roger Federer, Serbian Novak Djokovic,Rafael Nadal of Spain and BritonAndy Murry — have been dominating tennis for the last two seasons.
“They have been consistent and one needs to be consistent to break into the top four. Furthermore, they work very hard physically and mentally,” added Ferrer, who singled out Spain’s David Cup wins in 2008, 2009 and 2011 as the most memorable moments of his career.- NST
