Ferrer extends his stay in Miami by digging deep to topple Zverev

Former World No. 3 David Ferrer dug deep to pull off the biggest upset so far at this year’s Miami Open, stunning current World No. 3 Alexander Zverev in his opening match, 2-6, 7-5 ,6-3.

Ferrer came into the match as a long shot—not only is he currently ranked No. 155 in the world, but he’s announced he’ll be retiring from professional tennis at Madrid in May. He had also lost his last four meetings in a row against Zverev, including in straight sets just a few weeks ago in Acapulco.

And things looked headed much the same way after the first set on Saturday night, but Ferrer—still one of the most tenacious competitors on the tour—broke in the first game of the second set and hung onto that break to lead 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2. Zverev got the break back and came within a game of victory leading 6-2 5-4, but Ferrer reeled off three games in a row to send the match to a third set.

Ferrer kept the pressure on in the decider, breaking for 3-2, and with Zverev serving to stay in it at 3-5 the Spaniard struck again, breaking one last time to clinch victory after two hours and 22 minutes.

“It means a lot,” Ferrer told ATPTour.com. “It’s a special day because it’s the last year of professional tennis for me. Winning these types of matches against a Top 10 player like Sascha is a gift. I’m very happy and I’m trying to enjoy every point and every moment.

“My motivation is playing at a high level and being competitive. It’s my goal. I can’t play at my best level anymore, but I want to have good energy and play my best in every match.”

Both men had more unforced errors than winners on the day, but Ferrer finished with a -11 differential (19 winners to 30 unforced errors) while Zverev was -19 (28 winners to 47 unforced errors).

In the end, Ferrer had his 11th career win over a Top 3 player, and his first in almost five years (his last Top 3 win came against a No. 1-ranked Rafael Nadal at Monte Carlo in April 2014).

The 36-year-old Spaniard has played some of his best tennis in Miami in the past—he was actually a point away from the title in 2013 (he had match point against Andy Murray in the final that year).

Zverev, meanwhile, suffered his second straight early exit from a Masters 1000, having lost in the third round in Indian Wells. He was a finalist in Miami last year (finishing runner-up to John Isner).

The No. 2-seeded Zverev also became the third Top 5 men’s seed to go out in their first match in Miami this year—No. 3 seed Dominic Thiem and No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori also lost their openers.

Next up for Ferrer will be No. 28 seed Frances Tiafoe, who beat Indian Wells quarterfinalist Miomir Kecmanovic earlier in the day, 7-6(6) 7-6(5). Ferrer and Tiafoe will be playing for the first time.