The four time champion, who will retire in May after playing his six favourite tournaments, progressed to the second round of the ASB Classic with a comprehensive 6-2 6-1 defeat of Robin Haase.
Playing in the Auckland for the 14th and last time, Ferrer delighted a large crowd with a vintage display.
He gradually dismantled the Haase game, and by the end the Dutchman was a picture of frustration.
Ferrer served well and returned strongly, but it was his tennis intelligence that caught the eye.
He constructed the points beautifully, and took time away from his opponent.
Ferrer started like a dream, rolling back the years to when he used to dominate this event.
He had lost the previous two encounters with Haase (both in 2017) and was ranked nearly 80 places lower than the Dutchman. The world No 124 also gave up five years to Haase (31), but it didn't matter.
At 36 years old, he has still got the wheels. One drop shot from Haase was a beauty and looked a certain winner, but Ferrer bounded in like a leopard.
Ferrer made his name as the best defensive player in the sport, with his incredible lateral movement allied with anticipation, and gave reminders of that yesterday, although with superb placement when he attacked.
Haase was broken three times in the first set, the third one sealing the set.
The next set followed a similar pattern. It was a blistering 34 degrees on court, but Ferrer looked in his element while Haase struggled.
The Dutchman couldn't force a single break opportunity on the Ferrer serve, but was broken three times when he stepped up to the line.
At 3-1 down in the second set, Haase let out a huge guttural roar of frustration, enough of scare some of the kids in the grandstand and scatter the swans in the nearby pond at the Auckland Domain.
But he couldn't reset, and Ferrer converted his first match point, after a long rally, to win his 32nd match on Stanley Street.
"I was surprised because it is not normal to win 6-2 6-1," said Ferrer. "But maybe it was a bad day [for Haase] and a very good day for me. I know that I cannot play every day like this. But I will try to be competitive. My goal is to play a good match with the best players of the world…that's my only motivation to play tennis this year.
And Ferrer enjoyed the occasion, and the reception from the adoring public.
"It's very exciting because it is the last time," said Ferrer. "For me it very nice to play one more time. This is going to be my last tournament and I want to finish as [well] as possible. It's nice for me that people are still enjoying my game…and a good performance."
