Want to know why Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer has come from No. 94 in the world (at the start of the season) without a title to top 30 (on Monday) with a title in the span of seven months? It’s because he can now hit shots like this against one of the most lethal and respected clay-court players in all the land (see video below):
At the end of the third set in a grueling encounter with the little beast? Tired, a little nervous? Worn down from a long rally that is typically the domain of the feisty Spaniard? No problem, says Mayer, as he lashes this gorgeous backhand down-the-line winner to end a point and send a message to Ferrer.
Mayer had lost all of his sixteen previous encounters with the ATP’s top ten heading into today’s Hamburg final with Ferrer, but because of sublime shotmaking like this and big serves (he hammered 10 aces on the day), the Argentine is now the fourth ATP player to have claimed a maiden title in 2014.