BURNING RUBBER…
ATP Insider
At the CAM Open Comunidad in Valencia, top seed JUAN CARLOS FERRERO joined Spanish golfing star SERGIO GARCIA at the Circuito Ricardo Tornos, Valencia's famous racing track which played host to the World Superbike Championship in March 2003. The Valencian sports stars met at the circuit - which is located in Cheste about 20 kilometres from Valencia Capital - to race official cars of the tournament up to speeds of 190 kph on the twisty circuit. Joining them were MARKUS HIPFL, SARGIS SARGSIAN and wild card GUILLERMO GARCIA-LOPEZ, along with tournament director MIGUEL MAESO and Ferrero's coach ANTONIO MARTINEZ.
"One of my greatest passions apart from tennis is speed," said Ferrero. "Normally, I can't find the time to get to a race track. It was a great experience to go out there and test the cars and the circuit. Pushing myself and driving at extreme speeds actually relaxes me on a tennis court."
[...]
After burning rubber on the track, they entered the circuit's clubhouse to sample the famous Valencian dish, seafood Piella.
Click for pictures
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Ferrero, Calleri advance at Valencia Open tennis
VALENCIA, Spain (Ticker) - Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero continued his mastery on clay Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Portas in the second round of the $400,000 Valencia Open.
Ferrero improved his record on clay to 14-1 this season and reached the quarterfinals for the third straight week. He won his first title of the year at the Tennis Masters Series event in Monte Carlo two weeks ago and followed with a semifinal showing at Barcelona.
"I felt very comfortable in my last two matches," Ferrero said. "I view it as just one step further. I am not thinking about the final yet."
The 23-year-old Ferrero will face fifth seed Agustin Calleri of Argentina on Friday. Calleri held off Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
"Calleri will be difficult," Ferrero said. "He had a great claycourt season, reaching the semifinals last week in Barcelona, the final in Estoril and winning an important title in Acapulco earlier in the year."
Despite being two of the best claycourt players on tour, Ferrero and Calleri will be squaring off for the first time on Friday.
ATP Insider
At the CAM Open Comunidad in Valencia, top seed JUAN CARLOS FERRERO joined Spanish golfing star SERGIO GARCIA at the Circuito Ricardo Tornos, Valencia's famous racing track which played host to the World Superbike Championship in March 2003. The Valencian sports stars met at the circuit - which is located in Cheste about 20 kilometres from Valencia Capital - to race official cars of the tournament up to speeds of 190 kph on the twisty circuit. Joining them were MARKUS HIPFL, SARGIS SARGSIAN and wild card GUILLERMO GARCIA-LOPEZ, along with tournament director MIGUEL MAESO and Ferrero's coach ANTONIO MARTINEZ.
"One of my greatest passions apart from tennis is speed," said Ferrero. "Normally, I can't find the time to get to a race track. It was a great experience to go out there and test the cars and the circuit. Pushing myself and driving at extreme speeds actually relaxes me on a tennis court."
[...]
After burning rubber on the track, they entered the circuit's clubhouse to sample the famous Valencian dish, seafood Piella.
Click for pictures
-------------------------------------------------------
Ferrero, Calleri advance at Valencia Open tennis
VALENCIA, Spain (Ticker) - Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero continued his mastery on clay Thursday with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Portas in the second round of the $400,000 Valencia Open.
Ferrero improved his record on clay to 14-1 this season and reached the quarterfinals for the third straight week. He won his first title of the year at the Tennis Masters Series event in Monte Carlo two weeks ago and followed with a semifinal showing at Barcelona.
"I felt very comfortable in my last two matches," Ferrero said. "I view it as just one step further. I am not thinking about the final yet."
The 23-year-old Ferrero will face fifth seed Agustin Calleri of Argentina on Friday. Calleri held off Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2.
"Calleri will be difficult," Ferrero said. "He had a great claycourt season, reaching the semifinals last week in Barcelona, the final in Estoril and winning an important title in Acapulco earlier in the year."
Despite being two of the best claycourt players on tour, Ferrero and Calleri will be squaring off for the first time on Friday.
