JC Ferrero - Articles & Activities

[Kiro]

Vera said:

"Never before have I experienced four days in a row like this, playing Martin, Hewitt, Agassi and this final today. Never.

"And I hope it doesn't happen again.

I saw this in the rm video of his interview. USO official site cut these comments from the txt version though.
I can't help my tears when I heard this. Even now every time I read this, it brings tears into my eyes too.

[TennisHack]

Just a little update

For Ferrero, consolation prize is No. 1 ranking
Posted: Sunday September 7, 2003 8:55PM; Updated: Sunday September 7, 2003 8:55PM


NEW YORK (AP) -- For Juan Carlos Ferrero, the consolation prize after losing the U.S. Open championship wasn't all that bad.

Ferrero will take over the No. 1 ranking in the world on Monday, his reward for the best record on tour over the past 52 weeks. He sealed that when he defeated Andre Agassi in the semifinals, a day before running into Andy Roddick's buzzsaw serve in a 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 loss in Sunday's final.

And No. 1 is not bad for the 23-year-old Spaniard, who won the French Open in a season in which he improved his finish in each of the four Grand Slam events.

Ferrero came into the U.S. Open seeded No. 3, equipped with three championships this season, all on clay. But he handled the hard courts on the National Tennis Center flawlessly, ignoring a grueling schedule that required him to play four straight days because rain backed up the tournament.

There was a five-setter against Todd Martin that started with one set on Tuesday and ended with three more on Thursday, stretched out by the rain.

Then came a four-setter against Lleyton Hewitt and another four-setter against Agassi -- 13 sets in rapid succession against three of the circuit's best hard court players. It was a daunting schedule and not the best way to prepare for the hard serves of Roddick.

"You know, I think I was working for that, to play the final, to beat big players like Todd Martin, Hewitt, Agassi and also Roddick," he said. "But today was not my day.

"Right now, I am a little bit sad, but I have to think I did a great job these two weeks."

He also caught the fancy of the crowds, twice turning take-a-chance return shots from between his legs into miracle winners. There was no chance for those kind of theatrics against Roddick.

Ferrero knew going in that the American would be a major challenge.

"It was not a surprise for me," he said. "If he serves so good, it is not easy to beat him. You have to serve so good as him to go to a tiebreak. Then we'll see. When I start the match, this I was thinking."

One break in the first set and Ferrero lost. The second set went to a tiebreak and again Roddick won. A double fault in the third set positioned Roddick to serve for the match and he finished with a flourish, sealing the victory with three straight aces.

Later, Ferrero reflected on the turn of events.

"You know, I think I played a bad, really bad match today," he said. "I didn't do my tennis. I didn't hit the ball aggressive. Maybe because he served so hard all the time, I didn't feel a rhythm in the court.

"I knew it's not impossible, but very difficult to break his serve. So I had to play better my games, my serve games. And I didn't."

Ferrero said he came away from the U.S. Open with some positives.

"I learned that I can play pretty good on hard courts and I can play against everybody," he said.

And one more thing.

He became No. 1.

[TennisHack]

Ferrero makes name for himself at U.S. Open
September 5, 2003
By Cory Harris
SportsTicker Contributing Writer

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) - Juan Carlos Ferrero has not even played a match on Arthur Ashe Stadium at this year's U.S. Open. But he has earned a shot to play on tennis' grand stage against the best that America has to offer.

It has been an unwritten rule that Spaniards are more adept on clay, but the French Open champion has shown that he can achieve success on hard courts as well.

Just one day after pulling out a five-set win over Todd Martin, Ferrero played perhaps his best match of the tournament Friday as he wore down one of the fastest players in tennis, former champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Ferrero's four-set win over the former world No. 1 left him just two victories from becoming the second Spaniard to lift the U.S. Open trophy.

Ferrero is no stranger to playing on hard courts, having grown up playing on hard and clay surfaces in Valencia, Spain. In fact, Ferrero has reached five career hardcourt finals, winning two titles.

In January, Ferrero reached his first Australian Open quarterfinal before winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros in June.

Ferrero seemed to be the forgotten man among players such as Agassi, Andy Roddick and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer heading into the U.S. Open.

In fact, Ferrero had only one match scheduled to be played at Arthur Ashe Stadium before rain washed out his encounter with Martin, stretching it out over three days. Not being scheduled to play on the main court was something the third-ranked Spaniard found peculiar.

"I know that the American guys have to play before me in Arthur Ashe Stadium," Ferrero said. "But I think it's strange to be in the semifinals and I never play on Arthur Ashe, and I'm No. 3 in the world. I think this is not normal."

Ferrero had not advanced past the fourth round in four previous appearances at the U.S. Open, but Hewitt knew firsthand how well he can play on the hard surface.

Hewitt needed five sets to defeat the Spaniard in the final of the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup last November. On Friday, Hewitt simply had no answers for Ferrero's mixture of baseline shots which left the Australian helpless.

"He's (Ferrero) getting tougher and tougher on these kind of courts," Hewitt said. "He was too good."

Ferrero certainly has made a name for himself over the last two weeks and will look to join 1975 winner Manuel Orantes as the only Spaniards to win the U.S. Open.

But Ferrero knows he may have to overcome the top two American players on their home court in order to pull it off.

"I'm pretty close right now, but I have in front of me pretty good players," Ferrero said. "I will have to play very, very good tennis because there are two American guys here (Agassi, Roddick), and I think they are very motivated to play here in their house."

Ferrero has two goals in mind heading into his semifinal clash with Agassi.

A victory over the top-ranked Agassi will increase his chances significantly of finishing the year at the top spot.

"I want to show everybody that I may be No. 3 in the world and I could be No. 1," Ferrero said. "It's going to be an exciting match for me."

After winning the French Open, Ferrero said it was important to win a Grand Slam title on hard courts and prove he could do well in New York. With the championship in his sights, Ferrero knows the significance of winning this title.

"It's always important to win a Grand Slam, (it) doesn't matter if it's claycourt or hardcourt," Ferrero said. "I got the claycourt slam, and now I want the hardcourt Grand Slam."



Updated on Friday, Sep 5, 2003 8:52 pm EDT

[TennisHack]

Ferrero claims Tennis Masters Madrid crown
October 19, 2003

MADRID (Ticker) - Juan Carlos Ferrero moved to No. 1 in the ATP Champions Race and captured the Tennis Masters Madrid title Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Chile's Nicolas Massu in the final of the $2.95 million event.

Already at the top of the Entry Rankings, Ferrero moved ahead of U.S. Open winner Andy Roddick and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the season standings. But the battle to finish the year at No. 1 is tight and come down to the Tennis Masters Cup in Houston next month.

The 24-year-old Spaniard earned the first indoor hardcourt title of his career in two hours, 30 minutes before a capacity home crowd at the Rockodromo.

Ferrero, competing in his seventh final of 2003, lifted his second TMS crown of the year after Monte Carlo. He also won trophies at the French Open and his hometown event in Valencia in the spring. This was the 11th career title for Ferrero, who defeated Massu for the fourth time in five encounters.

With a pair of claycourt tournament wins this year, Massu was playing his first-ever final on another surface.

Ferrero jumped out to early leads in each of the three sets, keeping Massu frustrated as winners flowed from his side of the court and the Chilean's errors mounted.

Massu broke back in the sixth game of the third set, but his rally fell short. Ferrero faced two break points on his next serve but fired two straight aces for 5-3 lead. He closed out the win with a final break of the Chilean.

Ferrero earned $540,000, while Massu took home $270,000.

[TennisHack]

Ferrero wins Madrid Masters

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero won the Madrid Masters on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nicolas Massu and overtook Andy Roddick for first place in the ATP Champions Race with three weeks left.

Ferrero, the French Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up, has four titles this season. He will lead Spain in the Davis Cup final next month in Australia.

The Spaniard received the trophy from Crown Prince Felipe after winning his first indoor championship. Massu has won two titles this year.

Ferrero was taken to deuce on serve only twice by Massu in the first two sets. He didn't face any break points. In the third set, Ferrero broke the Chilean three times.

Ferrero has 826 points in the season-long ATP Champions Race, four more than Roddick, who lost to Massu in the third round. The Champions Race standings are based on the four majors, the nine Tennis Masters Series events and a player's other top results.

Ferrero already was No. 1 in the entry system rankings, which reflect the past 52 weeks and are used to determine tournament seedings.

[TennisHack]

Ferrero wins Madrid crown

Spain's world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero captures his fourth title of the year with a crushing 6-3 6-4 6-3 victory over Masters Series final debutant Nicolas Massu in Sunday's Madrid final.

Chilean Massu had been in exceptional form throughout the week, beating the likes of Gustavo Kuerten and Andy Roddick on his way to the final, but he was outplayed from first to last, with nerves clearly getting the better of him.

Ferrero's first indoor title means he has extended his lead over U.S. Open champion Roddick and Switzerland's Roger Federer, the Wimbledon winner in the ATP entry list.

The win takes him four points ahead of the American in the ATP Champions Race with just three weeks to go in the season.

"Massu has improved a lot and I think he's now among the best in the world," a generous Ferrero said after clinching victory in two hours 30 minutes.

Ferrero broke Massu in his first service game and reeled off a series of forehand winners to take the first set.

Massu lost his first service game in the second set and Ferrero built on that 2-0 advantage to take it with a minimum of fuss.

Ferrero repeated the trick in the third set, breaking early on, and extended his lead to 4-1 with another break.

Massu broke back for 2-4 and had a sniff of a chance to come back in game eight, with a couple of loose Ferrero serves handing the Chilean two break points at 15-40.

The Spaniard saved the first with impeccable court craft and a big serve dashed Massu hopes of taking the second.

Ferrero, by now in sensational form, broke Massu in the next game to complete victory, the Chilean putting a volley long on the first match point.

Eurosport - [e-mail]

[TennisHack]

TENNIS MASTERS MADRID
MADRID, SPAIN October 19, 2003

Ferrero Reigns In Spain

Juan Carlos Ferrero claimed his fourth career Tennis Masters Series title on Sunday, defeating Chile's Nicolas Massu in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to the delight of the home crowd. Ferrero's win means he overtakes Andy Roddick by just four points as the leader of the ATP Champions Race. The Spaniard also continues to hold the No. 1 spot in the ATP Entry Ranking. The world No. 1 claimed his first indoor Tennis Masters Series title with wins over Wayne Ferreira, Felix Mantilla, Paradorn Srichaphan, Roger Federer and Nicolas Massu.

Ferrero, who staved off two match points against Wayne Ferreira in the second round, was roared on by the raucous home crowd throughout, breaking Massu's serve in his opening service game of each set. The 23-year-old Spaniard hit 28 winners and converted five of 10 break points on his way to a comprehensive defeat of Massu, who was competing in his first career Tennis Masters Series final. The Chilean climbs to 15th place in the ATP Champions Race following his appearance in the Madrid final.


WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID


Ferrero: "It's a special win for me here in Madrid. You know, I was in front of all my crowd, all the people of Madrid and the rest of Spain. Of course, it's a special win, as well, because this is the first tournament that I win indoors. I think it's been a very important victory for me because I've been to the finals of Shanghai and Bangkok. I couldn't win them. But here I've been able to. So it's been important to me. I'm able to say I've been able to win on all surfaces."

On winning on different surfaces: "I believe in myself all the time, and I believe that I can play very well also on grass, you know, and also indoors. I think right now I'm showing that to everybody, and I'm going to try to give my best also in Davis Cup on grass."

On being No. 1 in the ATP Champions Race and the Entry Ranking: "I think it's very important. It means that I've been playing well throughout the year. That's why I'm No. 1. I've won important tournaments, like one Grand Slam and a few other tournaments. For me, the fact of being top in both rankings is very important. I'm very proud."

On Massu: "He fought until the end. Even when he was a double break down, it was difficult to turn the match over, to recover. I was surprised by his strength, his psychological strength. I think he's improved a lot. He's defeated people such as Kuerten, Roddick, El Aynaoui, who are players that are very important. I think he played a great tournament."

Massu: "Of course, I'm not happy. I lost the final. I wanted to win the match, to win the tournament. I had a lot of confidence in me that I could win this match. It was not possible. Juan Carlos played better. I didn't play important points very well. That's the really difference."

On his week: "For me it was a very big tournament. I play really good all the week. With Roddick, I played unbelievable, my best tennis of my life. The other matches I played good, but normal. I think I have a lot of confidence, not just to play two more weeks, but of course for next year. I have a better ranking now, more confidence. I think that maybe if I'm in another final of a Masters Series later, I'm going to have more confidence to play better than today."

On the rest of the year: "Stockholm is a very important tournament, but my goal is Paris Bercy. I hope to end the year as high as possible in the rankings, to be able to relax, take holidays, and to be happy and proud of myself."

DOUBLES FINAL

In a repeat of the Moscow doubles final, Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi defeated Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett to claim the Madrid title. Bhupathi and Mirnyi claimed their third TMS doubles title of 2003, having also won in Monte Carlo (d. Llodra/Santoro) and Montreal (d. Bjorkman/Woodbridge). En route to the title, they defeated Corretja/Lopez, Novak/Vizner, Costa/Verkerk and Black/Ullyett. This was their fifth title of 2003 and they remain in second place of the ATP Doubles Race on 878 points. Black/Ullyett are now 1-3 in doubles finals in 2003, with their only title coming in Munich (d. Eagle/Palmer).

[RogiFan]

EL REY JUAN CARLOS!!

On the site, there's a link to this special Ferrero Campeon del Tennis Masters Madrid -- has some stuff!

www.marca.com/indices/tenis.html

In the Felicita a Ferrero section you can congratulate him!!

Juanqui reached the semis of Basel last yr, as did Rogi, before they were beaten by Gonzo and Nalby respectively... he has a lot of pts to defend...

[Vera]

Well, picture perfect ending, isn't it! It's just nice that Juanqui got so much support playing in Madrid, all the Real stars showed up at his game, plus the Prime Minister yesterday and the Crown Prince today. And even Petro Almodover the director was there too. All the famous spanish that I know (except the Prince who I only saw him the first time on TV).

Too bad we didn't get to see the trophy ceremony, not even a shot of him holding it at the end . Well, some other time then, hopefully in Houston .

[RogiFan]

Vera said:

Well, picture perfect ending, isn't it! It's just nice that Juanqui got so much support playing in Madrid, all the Real stars showed up at his game, plus the Prime Minister yesterday and the Crown Prince today. And even Petro Almodover the director was there too. All the famous spanish that I know (except the Prince who I only saw him the first time on TV).

Too bad we didn't get to see the trophy ceremony, not even a shot of him holding it at the end . Well, some other time then, hopefully in Houston .

Pretty cool, eh? Everyone who is ANYONE came to see their little tennis king!! I love Pedro! He's a riot! I've seen just about all his films now...



once more:

VIVA EL REY JUAN CARLOS!!

Thanks, Juanqui, for dropping out of Basel and putting Nalby in the opposite half of Rogi!!

[TennisHack]

Triumphant Ferrero now a man for all surfaces
2003-10-19 20:07:27 GMT (Reuters)
By Kevin Fylan

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Juan Carlos Ferrero believes he can go on and prove himself as the world's top all-round player after winning the first indoor title of his career in Madrid on Sunday.

Ferrero has been regarded as a clay-court specialist since bursting on to the scene and winning his first title in Mallorca, as a supremely confident 19-year-old in 1999.

He underlined his reputation as the world's best player on clay by winning the French Open earlier this season but since then he has extended his range by reaching the final of the U.S. Open, losing to Andy Roddick, and he now leads both the ATP entry rankings and the Champions Race.

With three weeks to go, the number one ranking at the end of the season is within his sights and with the Madrid title won he is convinced he would be a worthy world leader.

"Being regarded as a clay-court specialist is not nice," Ferrero said after beating Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-3 6-4 6-3 in the Madrid Masters final on Sunday. "I don't like it because I think I got rid of it years ago.

"It was important to me to win this title because I reached finals in Shanghai and Bangkok but couldn't win them. I was able to win here and now I can say I can win on all surfaces."

Ferrero, who said he would not take part in Basel next week because of a slight groin injury, goes on to play in Paris and in Houston at the Tennis Masters Cup.

After that, he will lead Spain's Davis Cup bid against Australia in the final in November, when he will get the chance to show what he can do on grass.

"If I have enough time to practise on grass I can do well," Ferrero said. "Winning a tournament always helps to boost your energy levels for the events to come.

"I hope there will be more triumphs this season, the Davis Cup included."

[Vera]

RogiFan said:

Thanks, Juanqui, for dropping out of Basel and putting Nalby in the opposite half of Rogi!!

lol. Not sure if Juanqui had anything to do with Nalby's position on the draw. I'm glad that Nalby's on the other side too (last year, Fed and JC both were taking out by their foes in SF, what coincident). Besides, that gives Nalby a chance to take out Pandy, who stole that match from him on USO (yep, I'm bias and insisting that Nalby was rubbed in USO ). And I really hope Rogi can get Basel, it would be a big confident boost. Although I don't want Rogi to take out Juanqui at the ranking race, I'm hoping he'll take the #2 from you know who.

[Vera]

And this article, really sums it all:

Source: The IHL Online

Tennis: Ferrero tightens grip on No. 1
Christopher Clarey IHT Monday, October 20, 2003


MADRID Within hours of each other, Justine Henin-Hardenne assumed the No. 1 ranking by winning in Zurich and Juan Carlos Ferrero consolidated the No. 1 ranking in the Spanish capital.

If the promoter Ion Tiriac had his way, they would have done it in the same city, but for now, if perhaps not for long, Madrid remains a buzz-generating tournament for gentlemen only instead of the mixed, 10-day tournament that Tiriac is actively seeking.

What happened Sunday this time around certainly did not hurt this two-year-old event. The field and matchups were strong; the crowds were big and boisterous and a Spaniard won.

Ferrero might not be a local boy - he grew up and lives closer to the Mediterranean coast near Valencia - but he cheers for Real Madrid.

Last week, the world's most prominent soccer club returned the favor, as its players and administrators took turns occupying VIP space in the indoor arena known as the Rockodromo. On Sunday, Real fixtures Raúl González, Roberto Carlos, Ivan Helguera and Iker Casillas were on site as Ferrero jerked the much-more-unlikely finalist Nicolás Massú around the violet court en route to his 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Other contemporary Spanish icons were on view during the tournament, too. The Beckhams deigned to make an appearance. Prime Minister José María Aznar, jacket and inhibitions removed, took part in the wave as Ferrero beat the Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in three terrific sets in Saturday's semifinals. Crown Prince Felipe and the film director Pedro Almodóvar were part of the public on Sunday, all of which is to say that tennis is trendy in Spain: thanks to its increasingly tenuous elite connotations; thanks, above all, to consistent Spanish success.

Starting from shaky ground, they have built a solid foundation in the last 20 years, and Ferrero has the potential to be the best and brightest brick. He is not the first Spanish man to reach No. 1. Carlos Moya held the top spot in 1999 for two weeks. But Ferrero could be the first to last. His victory here this week, which came only after he saved two match points against Wayne Ferreira in his opening round, made him No. 1 in both the rolling, 52-week ranking and the 2003 points race, giving him a four-point edge over Andy Roddick.

"To me, to be the leader of both rankings is a real source of pride," Ferrero said.

Henin-Hardenne has a slight edge on her countrywoman Kim Clijsters after beating Jelena Dokic by the score of 6-0, 6-4 in the final in Zurich. Henin-Hardenne is the 13th women to reach the virtual top since the computer rankings were launched in 1975, and she is the second Belgian to reach No. 1 in the last three months. Clijsters did it first, but Henin-Hardenne has had the more sensational season: winning the French Open and U.S. Open.

"It was a dream of mine as a child," she said on court Sunday.

She had best enjoy it while it lasts. She has pulled out of this week's event in Linz, Austria, understandably citing fatigue, and women's tour officials have indicated that Clijsters will reclaim No. 1 after that tournament ends."My next focus is not on keeping No. 1 but my first match at the Championships in L.A.," said Henin-Hardenne of next month's tour championships. "I want to be fresh and ready for that in two weeks time."Clijsters, who won last year's tour championships, will have more points to defend in the final weeks of the season than Henin-Hardenne, and Clijsters still has no Grand Slam singles title.

Ferrero definitely has his. He won it in June at the French Open, and in September, he tore up his clay court-specialist label for good by reaching the final of the United States Open. Now, he has won his first indoor event and first Masters Series tournament on a surface other than clay and put himself in stronger position to finish the season at No. 1.

More impressive, he won in Madrid's relatively high altitude, which makes playing conditions even quicker than in an average indoor event.

"It's not nice to read in the newspaper that you're a clay court specialist," Ferrero said. "I don't like it, because I think I got rid of it years ago. But to win indoors is really important for my career."

It's not as if he gave no warning. The day he won at Roland Garros, he made it clear that he had not yet arrived at the summit he had in mind. Four months later, he is quite a bit closer, and quite a bit more at ease in the spotlight, as he proved after Sunday at the victory ceremony by, for a change, not treating the microphone as something to be handled for the shortest time possible.

Still, it looks as if his finest season is taking a toll: his right thigh was tightly wrapped Sunday and his angular features look increasingly drawn and his tinted blond hair increasingly rumpled. A pity that there is so much work left to be done: the ranking duel with Roddick and Federer that will finish at the Masters Cup next month in Houston; the Davis Cup final that will begin 12 days later on grass in Melbourne against a much better-rested Lleyton Hewitt and the Australians.

One can only imagine how fresh Ferrero is not going to feel in January after his too-short off-season. He has yet to rule out playing in the Australian Open, but it might be in his long-term interest to save himself. Ferrero wins with his whipping, take-the-ball-early groundstrokes and increasingly intimidating serve, but above all he wins with his legs.

The unseeded Massú, the last man admitted directly into the draw here, had the best tournament of his life: upsetting Roddick in the third round and then keeping his wits and pace in the rounds that followed. But for all his power and arriviste hunger, the Chilean could not keep up with Ferrero, dropping his serve early in each set and then failing to capitalize on his rare opportunities on the Spaniard's serve. His only break came when he was trailing 1-4 in the final set and his last opportunity to prolong his joy ride came when he led 15-40 with Ferrero serving at 4-3. But the Spaniard saved the first break point with a forehand winner; the second with a wide, bold second serve that Massú knocked long. Two aces later, Ferrero had proved that he is indeed a man for all surfaces.

[RogiFan]

Thanks for that article! I'm sending it to my Mom!
I also think Nalby was robbed at USO SF v Pandy... as were most other non-Amer players... still an injustice imo...

Juanqui needs his rest and Rogi needs to win at home, just like Juanqui did!

[TennisHack]

Great article, Vera! I especially liked the part about the Spanish royalty doing the wave during his matches

Hopefully Juan Carlos will be able to rest and train like he did last year. It's good that he's taking this week off; he needs every ounce of his strength for the Masters Cup. I believe he lost early in Paris last year so he won't have to play as hard or win TMS Paris like he did in Bangkok and TMS Madrid.

[TennisHack]

An article from after RG 03, but still good nonetheless

From a fan

www.tennis-ontheline.com/03fer.htm

[Vera]

Before you read this, a WARNING, this brings back very sad memory, it's an article from last year's TMC final. It was written by Bud Collins. Anyway, I hope the coming week will be a great one to replace the old and sad memory, just like this year's RG replaced last year's sad memory.


www.iht.com/ihtsearch.php?id=77279&owner=(IHT)&date=20021119135334

[TennisHack]

www.masters-cup.com/news/mercedes_ferrero.asp

Mercedes Dream Masters Cup Holiday: Juan Meets Juan Carlos

Juan Nieto had never attended a professional tennis tournament before lobbing in Houston for the Tennis Masters Cup. But Juan found himself in Texas after winning an on-line competition by Mercedes-Benz and Eurosport in which 24 European fans won all-expenses-paid VIP trips to the season finale.

Juan was among six fans brought across to cheer on Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero. “I found tennis because of him,” said Juan, a lawyer based in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. “Like me, I think many people in Spain became interested in tennis when Juan Carlos started to do so well.”

The VIP package includes airfares, luxury hotel accommodation, use of the official Mercedes-Benz tournament transportation service and – perhaps best of all – a private meeting with Ferrero backstage in the players' lounge.

“It was really fantastic to meet him,” Juan said. “I can hardly believe it. And I think the Masters Cup is the best tournament of the year, so it's great just to be here. It's a fantastic holiday. I think this is the best tournament of the year.”

Juan and five other Ferrero fans got to meet their hero the day after his opening round-robin loss to David Nalbandian. “He was a little low after the loss so I tried to encourage him and to lift his spirits,” Juan said. “We were also talking to his coach (Antonio Martinez) and how he was missing Spanish food. He told us that Juan Carlos was a bit sad, but he was eager to win his next match.”

Photos: Getty Images

[TennisHack]

www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/12/22/1071941669887.html

Revenge not Ferrero's style
December 23, 2003

Spanish Davis Cup star Juan Carlos Ferrero will be motivated by ATP points rather than revenge when he returns to Australia next month.

Ferrero kicks off his 2004 season at the adidas International from January 11 in Sydney before returning to Melbourne Park for the Australian Open the following week. That venue hosted the recent cup final at which the world No. 3 lost two five-setters to Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis.

"I will go to Australia trying to give my best," Ferrero said in a teleconference yesterday.

"I don't want revenge because they played very good," he said.

Ferrero said he was over the Davis Cup final loss, on his least-favoured grass surface at Rod Laver Arena. "It was two losses for me but now I've really recuperated from this," he said. "It's two more matches in my career, two important matches.

"I gave all of my talent but it wasn't enough but I think I played good tennis on grass."

Ferrero, who won his first-ever grand slam title at the 2003 French Open and finished the year ranked No. 3 behind Andy Roddick and Roger Federer, said he hoped to continue his good form.

- AAP

[TennisHack]

An interview with TENNIS magazine in China

juanqui.net/cutenews/show_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1076835600&archive=&template=v3default

[Kiro]

Exhausted Ferrero happy enough after Rotterdam defeat
2004-02-22 19:07:43 GMT (Reuters)


By Theo Ruizenaar

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Juan Carlos Ferrero finally ran out of steam against Lleyton Hewitt in the World Indoor tournament final on Sunday, but the Spaniard was happy with his performance after a three-week injury layoff.

French Open champion Ferrero, who lost to Hewitt 6-7 7-5 6-4, was playing his first tournament after undergoing tests on various injuries sustained on his run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.

"It is disappointing losing the final, but I could have easily gone out in the second or third round," said the exhausted Spaniard.

"Reaching the final of a quality tournament always gives me also a good feeling. It makes me especially happy after my injury break."

Ferrero, who will replace American Andy Roddick as world number two when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday, had won his three previous matches in third-set tiebreaks and the signs of exhaustion were clear from the start.

Having playing 124 games -- 43 more than Hewitt -- to reach the final, he tamely surrendered serve in the opening game.

However he managed to take the set into a tiebreak, which he dominated 7-1, and held two breakpoints in the seventh game of the second set as Hewitt was stretched to seven deuces.


PIVOTAL GAME

That seventh game proved to be pivotal, with the Australian keeping the Spaniard at bay before going on to clinch the set 7-5.

Hewitt then clinched his 21st singles title by winning the third 6-4.

"I played a lot of sets to get here and, in the third set today I just stopped feeling comfortable," said Ferrero.

"I started to feel tired...it was a set too much. He played very good at the end, very solid."

Ferrero, who has opted to hone his hard-court skills rather then play on his favourite clay surface during this part of the season, will be one of the biggest attractions at this week's Marseille Open.

"I know there is a clay tour going on in South America but I prefer to stay in Europe this time of the year to improve my indoor play in tournaments like this," he said.


www.gotennis.com

[Lee]

Worn-out Ferrero bows out in Marseille first round
2004-02-25 18:11:04 GMT (Reuters)

MARSEILLE, France, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Tired top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out in the first round of the Marseille Open on Wednesday, losing 6-7 7-6 6-3 to Frenchman Gregory Carraz.

"Motivation was not lacking, strength was," said world number two Ferrero, who was beaten in two hours and 13 minutes.

"I did not play my best tennis because I was not 1OO percent physically," the Spaniard added.

Ferrero had replaced world number one Roger Federer as top seed after the Australian Open champion pulled out before the start of the tournament complaining of general weariness.

Federer followed his success in Melbourne by leading Switzerland into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup before being knocked out at the last eight stage of the World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam last week.

Ferrero, a semi-finalist in Melbourne and losing finalist to Lleyton Hewitt in Rotterdam, also said fatigue had got the better of him.

"My legs were heavy. I could not move or hit the ball right. Against a good serve-and-volley player, there is not a lot you can do," the French Open champion said.

The match between Ferrero and one of the most improved French players of the season was very tight at first, the first two sets ending in a tie-break.

Carraz earned the first real break of the match in the third set and it proved decisive as the Frenchman, who struck 27 aces, maintained a solid serve.

"That's the best win in my career for it's the first time I beat a top 10 guy," Carraz said.

The two have met once previously, in Bangkok last year, when Carraz made Ferrero work hard for his victory, as he came within two points of winning the match.

Ferrero said he would now try to get some rest before going to Indian Wells, Miami, Mallorca, Valencia and Monte Carlo.

"I only have two weeks to recuperate. It won't be a real break," he said.

While Federer did not play in Marseille, his Davis Cup captain, the semi-retired Marc Rosset, was enjoying himself in one of his favourite tournaments.

The veteran Swiss, who has won the event three times, beat Italian Davide Sanguinetti in straight sets to ease into the second round.


from: gotennis.com

[Vera]

So he's playing Valencia afterall. Not surprised.

I still think that he has no choice for making a better schedule. I'm sure he knows he play too much and very much want to not extend himself. It's just that the way the schedule is, he can't get away with it. So he doesn't want to miss TMS because those are big important tourney and every top player is supposed to go. Then in between those TMS, it's all the spanish tourneys (DC, Valencia, Barca) that he find it hard to turn down. So unless he works himself to injury or tiredness, he can hardly say no to any of those tourney . But then, if he does play 5 consecutive weeks from IW on, I think he will skip Barca in order to play the next 2 TMS in Rome and Hamburg.

[Lee]

He may try to alternate the smaller tournaments between TMS IW & Miami and TMS Monte Carlos, Hamburg & Rome.

When he works on his schedule, he should base on himself getting to semifinals, thus skipping more small tournaments.

[Vera]

Again, the problem is, all the small tourney between IW to Hamburg, are Spanish tourneys, the one he considered showing up are anyway. Mallorca after Miami, is in fact not a tourney but it's Davis Cup. Then Valencia before MC, and Barca which is between MC and Rome. Normally, everyone should schedule themselves to utimately maximize their performances in those tourneys they attend. But when he choose to go to those small spanish tourneys in between the TMS, I think it's more out of obligations on his part. Last year, he said the same thing, knowing that going to tourney 5 weeks in a roll is too much. But he also said if he didn't go to Valencia and Barca, they will kill him, I assumed "they" are the spanish media and the tourney organizers.

I don't disagree that his schedule is suicidal, but I think his reasons for choosing to go to those tourneys are not of stupidity. He will suffer for playing too much, but if it's important for him to play the small spanish tourneys, then he should pay the price for doing so, I guess.

[TennisHack]

But, there is this all-important fact that he just does not do well at the first two TMSes of the year. He never has, and I'm not seeing where he will in the future. So its not like he's going to be grueling it out for five straight weeks. He may skip Hamburg again like he did last year. He played a lot last year as well and it didn't hurt him for the French.

I still trust his schedule-making abilities.

[Francine]

Ferrero not yet ruled out of TMS Miami

Yesterday Juan Carlos landed in Valencia still recovering from the chickenpox. The Valencian, who had to withdraw from TMS Indian Wells because of the illness will do everything possible to be ready for the second TMS tournament of the year which commences in a week. For that reason, today and tomorrow he will undergo several tests to further examine his physical condition and to see if he will be able to be competitive in Miami.

Ferrero, along with Antonio Martinez Cascales and Víctor Lopez, flew back Sunday with warning from a doctor of the disease being contagious.

The world number two still "had chickenpox pox but for the last three days did not have a fever which makes us optimistic," confessed Mark the trainer of the Valencian. All the consulted doctors, including Angel Ruiz Cotorro, doctor of the RFET, advised not to rush the recovery process, which would call for skipping Miami. Nevertheless, "it will not be until the weekend before we know if he in the condition to travel to Florida," points Cascales. He would not have to play in the Nasdaq-100 until Friday 26 of March, but conditions in Miami, with very high temperatures accompanied by humidity can prove adversarial.

The precedent of Hewitt
Lleyton Hewitt was the last player of the circuit with chickenpox in January of 2002. The Australian contracted it and was eliminated during the first round of the Australian Open after which he rested for almost a month. But Jordi Arrese, captain of the Spanish Davis Cup team stated, "Ferrero will start in the quarterfinal against Holland's Verkerk, finalist in Paris last year." The tie will be from 9 - 11 of April in Palma.

www.marca.es

He should skip Miami, even when he's feeling better. Doubt that he will though

[TennisHack]

Juan Carlos isn't contagious anymore. The disease had the most danger of spreading before he broke out. If his camp hasn't caught it by now, they won't get it now

[RogiFan]

Thanks for the Juanqui update, Francine! I was just asking about him in another thread!!

Yeah, i w not be surprised if Juanqui showed up in Miami but he really s be careful... I'm surprised he was OK to fly home...

Well, so far, nobody else seems to have it ... yet! But yes it s have already shown up... take care of yourself, little Juanqui!!

[TennisHack]

Chicken pox doesn't last very long; it's a good sign that he's over the initial sickness. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the pock marks to go away. Hopefully he is taking plenty of oatmeal baths.

I'm surprised he went back to Spain if he was planning to play TMS Miami . . .