Alexander Zverev can play like a defending champion – and the villain – it turns out. The third-seeded German, lacking confidence of late, put it all together to knock out David Ferrer 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday night at the Mutua Madrid Open, ending the Spaniard’s legendary career that saw him reach No. 3 in the ATP Rankings and win 27 tour-level titles, including 15 on clay.

The late-night Spanish crowd was amped and eager for Ferrer to extend his retirement tour for at least one more match. The packed La Caja Magica showered the 37-year-old, whose historic work ethic made him beloved by all, with chants of “Ferru! Ferru! Ferru!”

“It’s been a very emotional night. It’s been completely different to any other important moment in my life that I have experienced previously. I was not expecting it.

“I never expected a goodbye or farewell like today. I tried to play at a high level during the last year, but a day like today, people at work tomorrow, everyone stays here to support me and that is something that I will only have in my mind and in my heart. It’s something I will never forget,” Ferrer said.

“It’s the only match that I have lost and I’m not very sad. Whenever I lost a match in the past, I left very sad. Today I’m not sad. Today is a day that I want to enjoy, and I’m very happy to be able to enjoy a day like today.”

The match began a little before 10 p.m., and it had the feeling of a memorable evening. Ferrer raced ahead, hitting everything he wanted and benefitting from a shaky Zverev, who was tentative with his groundstrokes and struggled on serve, double faulting to give Ferrer, who was hopping in between points, the break in the fourth game.

Read More: Ferrer Discusses Retirement, What’s Next

After the Spaniard hit a drop shot winner to hold to love for 4-1, he jogged to his chair with his fist raised, and during the changeover, the crowd showered him with “Ferru! Ferru! Ferru!”

But Zverev calmed down and dug in, relying on his defence to break back and win the next five games, along with the opening set. The German was soon into attack mode, whipping crosscourt forehands and pulling Ferrer from side to side, and the Spanish veteran could do little to slow down the three-time Masters 1000 champion, who won 11 of the final 12 games. Zverev will next meet Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, who won 86 per cent of his first-serve points (36/42) and beat France’s Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-1.

“I started the game playing well, playing with a break, but yesterday I finished the match dehydrated, physically very, very tired. And to win against Zverev you have to be in full condition, you have to be very fit,” said Ferrer, who beat countryman Roberto Bautista Agut in the first round.

More On Ferrer’s Retirement
Federer, Nadal, Djokovic Pay Tribute 
Ferrer’s Career Reflections: ‘I Tried To Give My All’

“It’s a reality that physically I cannot play more than two straight matches at the level that I would like to play and that is another symptom that says that my life as a tennis player is finishing. But I have been very lucky to be able to choose the moment, the place, and to share it with all of you and with all the people that I love.”

It was also an emotional evening for Zverev, who looked up to Ferrer as a boy. As the 37-year-old Spaniard faced three match points, down 4-6, 1-5, 0/40, Zverev encouraged the crowd to give him a standing ovation. “Come on, everybody,” Zverev said, raising his arms.

Watch Zverev Encourage The Crowd To Support Ferrer

The 21-year-old German looked to be filming the post-match ceremony with his phone and holding back tears as Ferrer, who again left his bandana on the T, was honoured by the tournament.

“He’s the most respectful guy for me on Tour, and one of the most loved people on the Tour as well,” Zverev said. “We’re going to miss him.”

A video shown for all in La Caja Magica played tributes from leading WTA and ATP stars, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Ferrer then spoke for 11 minutes, thanking everyone, from his parents to his longtime coach Javier Piles to the regular fans who sent Ferrer off with one final standing ovation.

Ferrer won the 2012 Rolex Paris Masters for his only Masters 1000 title. But, during retirement, his 27 tour-level titles won’t be his most cherished possessions.

“I never won Madrid. I never won Roland Garros. I never won some tournaments I would’ve loved to win. I have my trophies at home, they’re just trophies, material,” Ferrer said. “What I really take with me is the love you’ve shown me. Always in my heart. Thank you so much.”

David Ferrer is hanging up his racquet at the 2019 Mutua Madrid Open after a stunning career: former World No. 3, 27 ATP Tour titles — including the 2012 Rolex Paris Masters — three Davis Cups, 2013 Roland Garros finalist, Australian Open (2011, 2013) and US Open (2007, 2012) semi-finalist, a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon (2012-13) and a runner-up finish at the 2007 Nitto ATP Finals. It is, without a doubt, one of the best careers in the history of Spanish tennis. The Javea native has also earned the respect of his peers, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Ferrer says that the ambition and drive of the quartet made him a better player. Of his compatriot Nadal, Ferrer admitted, “Rafa has been a mirror for me. Although he is younger and joined the tour later, I’ve learned from him. Winning a tournament and winning it again. Winning at Roland Garros, going to Queen’s [in London] and winning again… That showed me that when you win a tournament it’s not enough, you have to keep going. That helped me reach World No. 3 and to have the consistency I did.

“If I hadn’t seen those players, if I’d been with the other kind of players that I witnessed at the start of my career, I wouldn’t have been such a good player,” he added. “Federer would change the pace and drive me crazy. Maybe I made him sweat like many players, but I never had the chance to beat him.”

More On Ferrer’s Retirement
#GraciasFerrer: A Tribute
Farewell Match: Spaniard Bids Emotional Goodbye In Madrid
Federer, Nadal, Djokovic React To Ferrer Retirement 
Watch Zverev Encourage The Crowd To Support Ferrer

Of course, the peak of Ferrer’s career came in 2013 at Roland Garros, a bittersweet and also memorable fortnight to the final against Nadal. “I never had a chance,” Ferrer recalled. “I’m not blaming anyone, but my motivation for that match was not the best. I went onto court a little distressed. And that’s normal because it was my first final, it’s logical. Anyway, maybe in those moments we were none the wiser. Neither I, nor my team, had a better idea of how to approach the match. We did what we could.”

Another near miss, which Ferrer struggles to forget came at the All England Club, Wimbledon, in partnership with his great friend, Feliciano Lopez, during the 2012 Olympics. A 6-3, 4-6, 18-16 semi-final loss to the French team of Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Michael Llodra left them exhausted and, ultimately, without a bronze medal. “We were both in the locker room and it was so hard,” remembers Ferrer. “We were playing so well. And that match, at 0/40… We were the better side for the whole match and it really hurt us. If we’d lost an easy match, I think we’d have had a better chance of winning the bronze. But it was so hard mentally. The next day was very difficult.”

At the end of an exceptional career, the universally admired and fierce competitor will cherish his close friendships with fellow Spaniards, former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roberto Bautista Agut. “Juan Carlos opened his doors to me and offered advice. We were very close. It’s something I’ll be eternally grateful for. It’s similar to what I feel now with Roberto Bautista. Juan Carlos taught me to help a young player. We got on well and he gave me the chance to be with him at the Valencia tournament. I have a lot of respect and affection for him, he’s a person I’ll always be grateful to. If there’s one thing I regret, it’s not having taken the step of working with him at certain points of my career.” Ferrer also expresses his admiration of Carlos Moya and Sergi Bruguera, Albert Costa and Alex Corretja, in addition to his friendships with Feliciano, Marc Lopez, Nadal and Bautista Agut.

In reflection, Ferrer is more than satisfied. “I can only say that I haven’t won a Grand Slam because I wasn’t able to. I tried to give my all, but I wouldn’t exchange places with players that have won one. There are players that have one Grand Slam and have only played one or two Masters finals. I’ve played in seven, I’m the third player in the history of Spain to win 734 matches – 12th on the ATP Tour match wins list (since 1972). My tennis life has been very good. I felt good about myself for many years of my career.”

Ferrer never lost the most valuable trait of all: humility. He will be missed.

Kei Nishikori earned a high five from partner Juan Martin del Potro after tagging Bruno Soares with a shot in their second-round match at the Mutua Madrid Open, but Soares and Jamie Murray had the last laugh. The third seeds defeated Del Potro and Nishikori 7-6(5), 6-2 on Wednesday to earn their place in the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Del Potro and Nishikori, teaming up for the first time this week, had played their second-round singles matches earlier in the day. Del Potro lost to Rio Open presented by Claro champion Laslo Djere, while Nishikori prevailed against qualifier Hugo Dellien.

Read: Djere Saves M.P. On Delpo’s Return | Nishikori Battles

Murray and Soares will next face Wesley Koolhof and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who ousted Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters champions Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor 6-2, 6-4. Mektic had also won the Madrid title last year with Alexander Peya.

Second seeds and 2017 champions Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo continued their bid to reclaim the Madrid title by defeating Robin Haase and Raven Klaasen 6-4, 7-6(5). In the quarter-finals, they will play Guido Pella and Joao Sousa, who fought for a 4-6, 7-6(11), 11-9 win over No. 8 seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers.

Sixth seeds Oliver Marach and Mate Pavic also advanced as they beat Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 7-6(3). Meanwhile, Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau prevailed against Brits Kyle Edmund and Neal Skupski 6-2, 6-7(4), 10-5.

Roger Federer will look to clinch his 1200th match win on Thursday when he faces off against Gael Monfils at the Mutua Madrid Open. Federer, a three-time champion at this ATP Masters 1000 tournament, goes head to head with Monfils for the first time in four years. 

All singles players feature in Round of 16 action Thursday in Madrid, with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and five-time Madrid champion Rafael Nadal leading the charge. Djokovic will play Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, while Nadal meets American Frances Tiafoe. 

More to come…

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, 9 MAY, 2019

MANOLO SANTANA start 12:00 noon
WTA match
Not Before 2:00 pm
ATP – [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 
Not Before 4:00 pm
ATP – [4] Roger Federer (SUI) vs [15] Gael Monfils (FRA) 
Not Before 8:00 pm
ATP – Frances Tiafoe (USA) vs [2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) 
Not Before 9:30 pm
WTA match

ARANTXA SANCHEZ start 12:00 noon
ATP – [9] Marin Cilic (CRO) vs Laslo Djere (SRB) 
Not Before 2:00 pm
WTA match
Not Before 4:00 pm
WTA match
ATP – Possible court change – [Q] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs [WC] David Ferrer (ESP) or [3] Alexander Zverev (GER) 

STADIUM 3 start 12:00 noon
ATP – [WC] Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) / Jaume Munar (ESP) vs Marcelo Demoliner (BRA) / Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 
ATP – [10] Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs [5] Dominic Thiem (AUT) 
ATP – [6] Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 
ATP – Possible court change – [8] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Fernando Verdasco (ESP) or [11] Karen Khachanov (RUS) 

COURT 4 start 3:00 pm
ATP – Guido Pella (ARG) / Joao Sousa (POR) vs [2] Lukasz Kubot (POL) / Marcelo Melo (BRA) 
ATP – [6] Oliver Marach (AUT) / Mate Pavic (CRO) or Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs Diego Schwartzman (ARG) / Dominic Thiem (AUT) 
ATP – [3] Jamie Murray (GBR) / Bruno Soares (BRA) vs Wesley Koolhof (NED) / Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Eighteen-year-old Felix Auger-Aliassime wasn’t intimidated by the moment, but Rafael Nadal doesn’t need much to grab hold of a match at the Mutua Madrid Open.

The five-time champion took advantage of a loose service game from Auger-Aliassime at 3-4, which included five forehand unforced errors, and the Spaniard served out the set to take the opener 6-3 in their much-anticipated generational clash at La Caja Magica.

The second-seeded Spaniard used his defence well in the opener as Auger-Aliassime came out attacking and showed he has the shots to compete with Nadal on his beloved clay. But Nadal was solid from both sides, and seemed to be playing more comfortable as he served out the set.

The Spaniard had a stomach virus on Sunday but had been practising for at least 90 minutes a day since then. Auger-Aliassime is going for the biggest win of his career after beating countryman and friend Denis Shapovalov, 20, in his opening match in Madrid.

The winner will meet American Frances Tiafoe, who knocked out Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.