Tennis: Ubiquitous David Ferrer just keeps on keeping on

Spanish veteran David Ferrer is elated after he continued his pursuit for a record fifth title with a clinical 6-2, 6-2 dismantling of last year's runner-up Joao Sousa. Photo / Photosport

The David Ferrer road show rolls on.

Like rain-soaked camp grounds, beach cricket and burned sausages on the barbecue, watching Ferrer fight his way through the draw on Stanley St has become a staple part of our summer over the last decade or so.

Today he will feature in the last eight yet again — incredibly the 11th time in 13 visits he has progressed to the quarter-finals in Auckland.

And on the evidence of his two matches so far, the 35-year-old remains a dark horse for the title, though he is on the much harder half of the draw.

Many fans weren't expecting to see Ferrer again after last year, when he lost in his first match to Dutch journeyman Robin Haase in three tough sets.

It felt like the end of an era in Auckland, especially when Ferrer's ranking blew out to No46 in the world midway through the year — his lowest position since 2005.

But a tournament win in Bastad turned around his year.

He regained his mojo and belief, and his appreciation for the game and is, as he has said many times this week, playing without pressure.

"I still have motivation and I think I can improve my game," Ferrer said yesterday after his win.

"But my goal this year is to try to enjoy every game that I play. And to play centre court today was very nice for me."

Yesterday felt like a return to his glory days, with some moments of vintage Ferrer as he dismantled Joao Sousa 6-2, 6-2.

He ran down balls from some impossible situations, hit the lines with unerringly accuracy and produced some impressive angles.

"Today, everything was perfect," said Ferrer, who struggled to subdue wildcard Wu Yibing in the first round. "I played really good ... serving, returning.

"Today with Joao, we have a similar game and I can play with more time to play on the baseline. So I was more comfortable."

● Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov made some big plays, but plenty of mistakes too, and in the end was no match for the class or power of Juan Martin del Potro last night.

Del Potro needed just 24 minutes to take the first set, and the match was done 6-2, 6-4 in 65 minutes.

No doubt Shapovalov, 18, is one for the future.

But this was del Potro, 11 years Shapovalov's senior, in cruise mode. Russia's Karen Khachanov, next up in the quarter-finals, should be worried.

- additional reporting, Liam Napier