[Sniperdoggy]

I never knew this about him. That's hilarious and so unlike how hardworking he is on court (and probably off as well)

what you said and I bet he'd miss those big paychecks so lucky for him he came back!!

[EnriqueIG8]

Small recap of Ferru's story

Most importantly, by recovering from many periods of self-doubt. The worst came in 1999, when Ferrer had a long phase when results would not come, and hard questions were being asked about his future.

It was obvious to his coach Javier Piles as he watched the young man arrive on his little motorcycle each morning that his commitment was waning. In an attempt to restore it Piles employed some controversially medieval measures.

"When he didn't want to work I would put him in a dark room, two by two metres, and I would place a lock on it so he couldn't get out," Piles is reported as saying.

"It was the room where we stored tennis balls. I would tell him that his working schedule was from 9 to 12 and that if he didn't want to work he would remain inside there, punished.

“I would give him a piece of bread and a bottle of water through the bars of a small window. After a few minutes we could hear David asking other trainers for help to get out but they wouldn't pay any attention."

Supporters of such tough punishment have occasionally described it as a metaphor for Ferrer's potential. Many knew his promise, no one had unlocked it.

And it really seemed that it was all over. A disenchanted Ferrer hung up his rackets and, almost unbelievably, took a job as a construction worker.

"I wanted to quit tennis, but didn't want to give up going out with my friends,” Ferrer explained. “So my father told me that if I needed money for fun, I should make it myself, working."

It was then that he gained a broader perspective upon the world. Seven days spent loading bricks into a wheelbarrow, from sunrise to sunset, left him exhausted and just 30 euros better off. It changed his attitude completely.

"In one week I learned to value many things,” Ferrer says. “When you are only 17 and have doubts about your future that is difficult to achieve.”

Next week Ferrer called Piles and said he wanted to get back on court the following morning. He did - at 9 am sharp.

[tripwires]

"When he didn't want to work I would put him in a dark room, two by two metres, and I would place a lock on it so he couldn't get out," Piles is reported as saying.

"It was the room where we stored tennis balls. I would tell him that his working schedule was from 9 to 12 and that if he didn't want to work he would remain inside there, punished.

“I would give him a piece of bread and a bottle of water through the bars of a small window. After a few minutes we could hear David asking other trainers for help to get out but they wouldn't pay any attention."

Oh. My. God.

[Action Jackson]

Originally Posted by tennisfan856

Most of them are well off to begin with, so I'm doubting the Burger King and Mcdonald's answers. Probably something their parents force them to do.

I'd be interested to see what happened to a player like Sharapova who came from nothing.

Ivan Dodig had less.

[156mphserve]

if tennis was never invented, then Federer would have invented a game called tenis and became world #1 for a long time while piling up 16 of the most prestigious tenis titles whatever he wanted to call them

[Roamed]

Originally Posted by tripwires

Oh. My. God.

MTE, that's horrible

[Edda]

Poor David-but I would have felt even worse if Javier Piles had just given up on him. I would have missed out on seeing one of my favorite players.

[Shinoj]

Rafael Nadal v Toni Nadal. Child Abuse Case in High Court of Mallorca.

[Edda]

Toni definitely treated Rafa horribly. Some of his behavior was not only nasty, but could have endangered Rafa's health as well. I am always afraid of what Uncle Toni will do to Rafa when he gets him alone. In the stands, he has a perpetually disgruntled, almost constipated look on his face.

[pray-for-palestine-and-israel]

Hopefully it involves pliers and a blowtorch