The Last Time... David Ferrer

A dynamo on the court, shy and reserved off it, David Ferrer is considered to be one of the friendliest players on the ATP circuit. Here, Ferrer tells when the last time was that...

I played a competitive sport other than tennis?
It must have been paddle tennis in Jávea [in Alicante], when I was 16 years old.

I was mistaken for another player?
It didn’t happen too long ago, actually. Last year when I was playing in Zaragoza, a woman confused me with Feliciano Lopez. It happened off the tennis court. The last time someone asked me if I was a tennis player, was probably four or five years ago.

I didn't have my credential with me and I couldn't get to where I needed to go? 
Now that happens to me a lot of the time! The fact that they don't let me in doesn't happen very often, as they usually recognize me. But four years ago at the US Open they didn't.

I flew economy class on an airplane?
I don't always do it but, sometimes, yes. The last time was this summer when I was travelling in the United States.

I had a bad hotel experience?
I don't think I've ever had a bad experience in a hotel… Well there was this one time in Umag about seven years ago. I had no television in my room. I didn't complain or ask to switch rooms. I just had to read and sleep without a television the entire week.

I was told I looked like David Ferrer?
Oh yes, it happens quite a bit... especially with girls! The last time wasn't long ago.

I had an unusual fan request? 
Nothing too weird has happened to me, but the most unusual incident was probably when I had to sign an autograph on a fan's cell phone.

I asked someone for their autograph?
I asked Peda Mijatovic for his autograph when I was 15. He's a former Real Madrid football player.

I visited a country for the first time?
That must have been last year when I went on holidays to the beaches of Punta Cana, which is a region on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic.

I broke a string in a match?
I broke my strings in an official match about two weeks ago.

I played a practical joke in the locker room?
I don't remember exactly… I do play jokes on other players, but I can't think of a specific example right now.

I forgot something important?
My mother's birthday yesterday! [laughing]

I lost something important?
I have lost so many important things... The last time I lost something important was a watch two years ago in Madrid.

I logged on to atpworldtour.com or atpworldtour.com/es?
Three days ago I looked at both ATP web sites.