Some might think it demeaning to refer to another as a ‘junk yard dog.’ David Ferrer hails from Spain and stands five foot eight inches tall. Call him the above name and he’d undoubtedly take it as the ultimate compliment. In tennis, it means that he fights for every point like Joltin Joe Frazier used to compete in boxing.
Ferrer rarely gives away a free point and his opponents know it from the opening bell. They will be on court a long time testing their stamina and their will. In the seventies, two players achieved great results with a similar type of determination and game plan. Eddie Dibbs and Harold Solomon were about the same stature. They were called grinders…same thing…junk yard dogs who’d latch on to an opponent’s weak spot and never let go.
So, where is all of this leading?
There’s a grinder on women’s tour now too, and she’s number one in the world…she won the 2015 Australian Open and The U S Open. Her name is Angelique Kerber. Born in Germany. She hardly ever dominates with her serve. Kerber possesses that same tenacity as Ferrer…that same respect for the importance of each incoming yellow ball. Don’t be surprised if she’s in the finals again in Melbourne this month. So…finally, the point of all of this. Here’s hoping someone this winter took Madison Keys into the film room and had her watch hours of Kerber and Ferrer’s best matches. Maybe we’ll see Keys in a major final in 2017. It can happen. She could win. How exciting for U S tennis if she would…if she develops the same respect of that yellow ball that seems so second nature to Kerber and the junk yard dog from Spain.
As commentator Justin Gimelstob said of Ferrer this morning, ‘he always brings it…never takes a point off.’
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