French Open: Bloodhound Ferrer ignores title scent

If you want colour or controversy at the French Open, go to Rafael Nadal, who'll criticise the schedule, or consult Maria Sharapova for views on officiating and candy.

Serena Williams will hand you a line on painting, Novak Djokovic may or may not don a Yannick Noah wig if he wins the title while Roger Federer will tell you in three languages his thoughts on plans for a tennis premier league.

Just don't ask world number five David Ferrer, unless it's for his opinions of a match just played or a match to be played.

Widely-regarded as currently the best player -- and nicest -- never to have won a Grand Slam, but with the misfortune to be plying his trade in an era dominated by Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, the 31-year-old feels no bitterness.

"Tennis doesn't owe me anything. Tennis is one of the fairest sports. It's given me so many extraordinary feelings," said Ferrer.

He has made three semi-finals at the majors -- the 2012 French and US Opens and again at this year's Australian Open.

On Sunday, he reached the last-eight at Roland Garros for a fourth time, dropping just five games to South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

Famously locked in a cupboard when he was younger for refusing to practice by his coach Javier Piles, and briefly quitting the sport to work on a construction site, Ferrer is as economic with his words as he is with openings handed to opponents.

Does he believe that he'll never win a Grand Slam?

"It's not a question of being able to or not being able to. I always try and do my best and put out the best and find the best in me, as well. But I'm not thinking about it beforehand."

What about making another semi-final? After all, Ferrer has a winning record over both his scheduled quarter-final opponents -- and fellow Spaniards -- 13-0 against Nicolas Almagro and 6-2 over Tommy Robredo.

"Well, for the time being I'm just thinking about the quarterfinals. I go about it step by step. I don't want to dream too much. Reaching the finals here would be okay, but I wouldn't say that I would not sleep at night thinking about it, or I would sleep better."

Surely the thought of making the final from a section of the draw that contains neither Djokovic nor Nadal must fill him with anticipation?

"Well, you've asked the same question; I'm going to answer the same answer. I'm not thinking about it at all. It's not because you're going to ask it in different ways, you're going to change the wording of your question that I'm going to answer something different.

"No, I will think only about the quarter-finals. It's step by step. Winning a Grand Slam is not something I'll think about."

But Ferrer, the smallest and lightest man in the top 10 -- at 1.75m and 73kg -- has the respect of his peers for a fighting spirit which has regularly been likened to that of a bulldog, terrier and bloodhound.

"He has an incredible will to learn," said Piles in an ATP interview.

"He wants to learn in everything. He wants to be critiqued. He does not want praise, he wants information on how to get better. But what I am most proud of David is how he continues to seek knowledge. And also, his respect for the sport."