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US Open 2018: Rafael Nadal into second round after David Ferrer retires injured

By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport at Flushing Meadows

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments41

David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal
Ferrer and Nadal helped Spain win the Davis Cup in 2008, 2009 and 2011

Defending champion Rafael Nadal moved into the US Open second round after fellow Spaniard David Ferrer's Grand Slam farewell was ruined by injury.

Nadal led 6-3 3-4 in Monday's late tie on Arthur Ashe Stadium before Ferrer had to give up with a calf injury.

Ferrer, the 36-year-old former world number three, will retire after playing in Barcelona or Madrid next year, but says this will be his final Grand Slam.

"It is sad for me to see him finish like this," said 32-year-old Nadal.

"I'm very very sorry for him, he is one of my closest friends on tour and we have shared amazing moments together, playing in French Open finals and playing together in the Davis Cup and Davis Cup finals.

"He is one of the greatest players we have had in our country."

Roger Federer tweet reading: Ultimate respect for road warrior @DavidFerrer87

Top seed Nadal is among the favourites to retain his crown and has a seemingly favourable draw at Flushing Meadows, with two top 10 players - Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem - in his quarter.

Anderson lost to Nadal in last year's final and has never beaten him in five attempts, while Thiem has only won four matches since finishing runner-up to the Spaniard at the French Open in June.

Before looking that far ahead, Nadal must focus on beating Canada's Vasek Pospisil, ranked 88th, in the second round on Wednesday.

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41 comments

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 09:51 28 Aug 2018

    I agree that there should be so much respect for Ferrer. So why do so many HYS contributors portray Tim Henman as a loser or figure of fun? Like Ferrer he got to top 4 in world. Like Ferrer he got to latter stages of slams but did not win one. Similar careers and Henman did not have other home players sharing the pressure of media scrutiny as Ferrer did. Curious...

  • Comment posted by Anne Willaims, at 09:56 28 Aug 2018

    Sad to see Ferrer is retiring, always a lovely player to watch and a gentleman on court.

  • Comment posted by YMAM, at 10:24 28 Aug 2018

    Ferrer is a work horse. Fantastic player contributed in a very high standard era!

  • Comment posted by U16651053, at 08:44 28 Aug 2018

    Sad it ended that way for Dave. He was actually playing well until the injury.

    Never the most entertaining, but consistently regarded by players as one of the nicest and toughest players on the tour.

    Fun fact: He once threw a strip early in his career and wanted to quite tennis, so his Dad made him work as a bricky! He claims this is why he's now so enthusiastic about tennis! XD

  • Comment posted by Bigred, at 09:22 28 Aug 2018

    All the best to Ferrer, he's had a stellar career, probably born in the wrong era, and deserved a GS, like 1-2 others. An honest and hardworking guy....

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 08:36 28 Aug 2018

    Rafael Nadal into second round after David Ferrer retires injured.

    Very sad to see Ferrer retire injured and his last Grand Slam also. He is a classy player but has suffered from so many injuries that have prevented him from winning trophies.

  • Comment posted by armchair59, at 11:44 28 Aug 2018

    Thanks for reply raygrant @12 but do you really think Henman deserves criticism while Ferrer only praise? Look at their stats at major events. Henman got to 6 GS semi finals. Ferrer got to 1 GS final and 5 semi finals. Both won 1 Masters series event. Pretty similar don't you think?

  • Comment posted by sam, at 10:14 28 Aug 2018

    Matches between Nadal and Ferrer can be brutal. This had all the makings of another such match until Ferrer pulled up injured. Ferrer has had a great career. Shame he isn't always given respect he deserves.

  • Comment posted by Matt, at 15:03 28 Aug 2018

    @KirkEt

    Murray beat Djokovic to win the US Open, and beat him again to win his first Wimbledon. In both cases Novak was seeded higher than him, and in the case of Wimbledon he was number 1. In short: what on Earth are you on about?

  • Comment posted by fossit, at 09:01 28 Aug 2018

    Ferrer is a great pro and will be missed from the grand slams. I’m sure we’ll see him commentating later down the line as he loves the game.

  • Comment posted by Dystopia, at 12:06 28 Aug 2018

    Always sad to see great 'professional' players like Ferrer bow out of his last slam in this way. He has always been a hard working and sportsman of the highest order.

  • Comment posted by alec, at 08:35 28 Aug 2018

    If this guy had found his dedication to the sport earlier he could have been an all time great.

  • Comment posted by Kubicktulip, at 12:32 28 Aug 2018

    Terrifically skilled player. Good luck to him.

  • Comment posted by U16651053, at 08:48 28 Aug 2018

    @3 "strop" and "quit".

    Stupid autocorrect...

  • Comment posted by berniefb, at 13:46 28 Aug 2018

    Sad for Ferrer. Thanks for some great memories, David.

    I hope he manages a flourish in his final tournament, worthy of the career he's had.

    As for Comment 16 -- Yeah, such garbage he not managed it not once, but three times!!!

  • Comment posted by elviramadigan, at 16:25 28 Aug 2018

    @aiio: You need to define what you mean by 'garbage.' If Murray is garbage, what does that make the majority of players outside the top 3??

  • Comment posted by Lefty13, at 16:22 28 Aug 2018

    David Ferrer...what a fantastic player...amazing heart and resilience against often bigger and harder hitting opponents....maximised his talent through hard work. His performance in his home town of Valencia winning the final rubber in the Davis Cup tie versus Germany this year was incredible and a fitting send-off. Vamos Ferru!

  • Comment posted by TrojanOtter, at 13:39 28 Aug 2018

    726 ATP tour wins. #12 in the open era.
    What a fantastic career - worthy of a better Grand Slam send off.

  • Comment posted by morbhoy, at 16:16 28 Aug 2018

    Sad to see him go,especially in this manner,a great player who always gave 100% + and was always worth watching.

    Thanks for all the memories David and hope you progress deep into your final tournaments.

  • Comment posted by Guybrush, at 15:32 28 Aug 2018

    Ferrer is one of the biggest fighters I've ever seen, with a superb forehand and return of serve. And I consider him to be Spain's greatest ever Davis Cup player, with Nadal typically not present whenever Spain have had a difficult away tie.

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