With Indian Wells and Miami in the rearview mirror, the tennis world turns to the clay-court swing.  It is a time that some dread, while others eagerly look to it with great anticipation.  For two players, Italy’s Sara Errani and Spain’s David Ferrer, what transpires in the next two months could prove pivotal to the rest of their seasons.

Errani and Ferrer are what many consider to be overachievers.  Both have found ways to maximize their potential and get the most out of their games.  It came together nicely for the pair of them in 2013, when Errani and Ferrer reached career-high rankings of world No. 5 and world No. 3, respectively. 

Their journey to those rankings came in part because of what they achieved during the first quarter of last year.  Errani won a title in Acapulco, logged finalist showings at the Paris Indoors and Dubai, and earned respectable quarterfinal finishes at Indian Wells and Miami.  Ferrer was even more impressive.  With the exception of Indian Wells, he reached the semifinals of every event he entered, bagged two titles, and reached the final of the Miami Masters 1000, where he held match point against Andy Murray.

The first quarter of 2014 has not been as kind to the Italian and the Spaniard.  Errani again failed to survive the first round of the Australian Open, also lost her opener in Dubai, and won a total of just two matches at Indian Wells and Miami.  Ferrer defended his title in Buenos Aires, but he was forced to withdraw from Indian Wells with an injury and fell in the fourth round of Miami.  Not surprisingly, both players have taken a hit in the rankings.  Ferrer has slipped to No. 6, and Errani has tumbled outside the top 10 to No. 11. 

Each player needs to make something happen on the dirt.  Errani and Ferrer have shown plenty of aptitude on clay, so there is reason to believe that they can turn things around in the coming weeks. 

Between the two, however, Errani needs a big clay-court swing more than Ferrer.  In 2013, she reached the semifinals in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, which means a multitude of points to defend.  By contrast, Ferrer was absent from Monte Carlo, had a poor outing in Barcelona, and reached the quarterfinals in Madrid and Rome.  He then went on to shock everyone – including himself – by earning a berth in the Roland Garros final.  The only result of those that he is unlikely to equal is his finalist appearance in Paris, which means he can swing away more freely than Errani.

Moreover, Ferrer has proven himself a man for all surfaces.  His superior footwork, aggressive forehand, and ability to flatten out his groundstrokes on both wings have made him a viable threat on grass, outdoor hard courts, and the indoor events.  He has proven himself particularly strong down the last stretch of the season, having reached back-to-back finals at the Paris Masters 1000. 

Errani has not been as proficient as Ferrer on the other surfaces, at least in singles.  She did reach the semifinals of the US Open two years ago, but she usually produces her best tennis during the first half of the year.  Unless she can reverse this trend, Errani must produce some strong results on clay to avoid continuing her downward spiral.   

The coming two months will have their share of intriguing storylines, winners and losers.  But be sure to keep an eye on these two players.  Errani and Ferrer have much to lose and much to gain.  How much (or how little) momentum they take out of the clay tournaments should have a significant bearing on the remainder of their seasons.