Order of Play

Court 1 1.00 pm Start

1. Ladies' Singles - 4th Rnd. Ai Sugiyama (JPN)[13] v. Kim Clijsters (BEL)[2]

followed by:

2. Gentlemen's Singles - 4th Rnd. Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v. Andre Agassi (USA)[2]

3. Gentlemen's Singles - 4th Rnd. Sebastien Grosjean (FRA)[13] v. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3]

Posted by nana at 12:37 AM

Post match interview
Juan Carlos Ferrero - Day 6


J.C. FERRERO/S. Sargsian

6‑4, 6‑4, 2‑6, 6‑4

Q. Do you think you'll be an unexpected hero next week, the man they don't think can go all the way on grass, but can turn the tables around?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't think so, but I am doing well. You know, before coming here, I didn't expect a lot. And I think the people also didn't expect a lot that I will be in the second week.

But I think I'm playing well. I'm going to change the mind of the people.

Q. Do you feel the spotlight is off you, that you could be a surprise choice?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I hope so. I'm sure, yeah. Maybe, yes.

Q. How comfortable do you feel here at Wimbledon on the grass?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm comfortable because I'm playing good. I'm playing from the base of the line. I didn't do mistakes. I'm serving good. You know, the most important that I'm winning matches in grass.

So after Roland Garros, I was thinking that I come here, you know, I was thinking it's going to be difficult to play good on grass because I didn't have so much time to practicing. But finally I'm playing good, and that's it.

Q. In your section of the draw, who do you fear most, who do you think could pose the most difficulties for you?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think I have Agassi, no? I don't know exactly. I have Agassi, Henman, and right now Grosjean.

Q. Which of the three do you think could be the most difficult?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Grosjean is going to be difficult. But if I pass this round, Henman is going to be difficult because he's playing here in home with his ground. I don't know. Agassi could be in the semifinals, so semifinals for me would be very, very okay.

Q. Do you think the pressure would be off you if you were to play Henman because he is on his home ground?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Maybe because he's on grass. In Roland Garros, I had the pression when I played against him because I was on clay, I had to win. Maybe it's going to change and he has to do right now.

Q. Do you think you would have been in the second week of Wimbledon had you not won the French Open? Do you think winning the French Open has given you the extra motivation to play well here?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I tell the other day the more motivation to come here is to get the No. 1 or to be the No. 1. So it's extra motivation to play after Agassi, if he wins, because I know I have to win.

Q. Do you think the confidence that you got from winning in Paris has been behind the fact that you've now reached the second week here for the first time?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think so. I think so. Yeah, it's possible. Because when you win a Grand Slam, you take a lot of confidence in your game. And also if you came to grass, it doesn't matter. You think you are a biggest tennis player, and you can play well in every surface.

Q. It changes your attitude about yourself?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I did, yeah.

Q. Do you envy Henman, having massive support here, Agassi having phenomenal support in America, yet as a Spaniard, you don't have a major championship, so you never have a situation with thousands of Spanish fans shouting for you? How much better of a player do you think you might be if you had that situation?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think I have a lot of fans here, not only Spanish. The situation is okay because I was playing on Centre Court, was a lot of people supporting me. Also today in Court 2 was the same. It's nice.

Posted by nana at 8:01 AM

Some pictures from JC's 3rd round match

pic 1: serve
pic 2: backhand
pic 3: forehand
pic 4: return
pic 5: eyes
pic 6: fist pump
pic 7: pumped
pic 8: eyeing the ball
pic 9: another backhand
pic 10: blowing out his cheeks (cute)
---------------------------------

Ferrero Holds His Nerve

Juan Carlos Ferrero, the French Open champion, moved into the last 16 with a 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Sargis Sargsian. But the Spaniard should have closed it out comfortably in three.

Based on Ferrero's last performance, the more experienced Sargsian was expected to give him trouble, especially as the 30-year-old Armenian was the happier of the two on grass. He has won his only titles on this surface, namely at Newport in the United States and Surbiton.

This time Ferrero came out determined not to allow his opponent a foot in the door and succeeded in his objective by playing an aggressive game from the first point. He stretched the Armenian fully, ensuring he was on the defensive from the outset.

It proved an effective game plan and, for the first two sets, he remained focused, taking advantage of the opportunities offered and defending well. An unfortunate lapse in the third set momentarily altered the whole tenor of the match when he tamely conceded his serve twice to give Sargsian a lifeline - both on double faults.

Refocusing, Ferrero, the world number three and current leader of the 2003 Champions' Race, was quick to re-establish his supremacy with some powerful groundstrokes that had Sargsian, the world number 62, reeling in the third game of the fourth. The Armenian had to concede the game to love under the weight and ferocity of the Spaniard's stroke play.

But Sargsian's spirit was not broken. In the sixth, he used a variety of spins and tactics to capture the Ferrero serve for a second time, breaking the 23-year-old Spanish number one from 40-0 up to the dismay of his supporters.

Fortunately for them, Ferrero struck back immediately to regain the initiative and held on grimly to serve out with a service winner, to their wild acclaim.

Ferrero faces Sebastien Grosjean, the tenacious 13th seed from France, for a place in the last eight. Once again, he will have to raise his game against a player who has won a grass court title, in Nottingham.

Posted by nana at 4:59 AM

Post match interview -- Juan Carlos Ferrero - Day 4


J.C. FERRERO/ N. Escude


6-7, (7-5) 6-3, 6-3, ret.

Q. Did you realize at one time that Escude was going to retire?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I didn't know so well. I think he start to feel the problem in the third set. So, you know, for me, was not so good. I wanted to play more time in the court, and I wanted to win – I don't want to win like this. You know, is not a good win.

But sometimes you have to do this. Bad luck for him.

Q. The first two sets, it was a good test for you?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think was a good tennis. We played a good tennis today on grass. The first set was so close after I had the break. The second and third, I think I play a great tennis, all the time, very, very solid, and very, very regular, I think. I think is not easy to play like this on grass. So I'm happy.

Q. How do you feel on grass?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm feeling great. I think I play a great tennis this match and the last match. I hope to keep going in this tournament.

Q. How do you prepare for this tournament? Do you stay in Spain?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I stay in Spain. I was practicing since past Wednesday on synthetic grass. You know, I just practice three days there after the parties of Roland Garros, you know. I came here on Friday and I start to practice Saturday, Sunday. You know, I start on Tuesday.

Q. Do you feel more comfortable on grass this year than the previous years?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Maybe yes because I think I'm playing better tennis than the other years. And also if you win to Escude, I won two sets, I know, but I think I was on the good way to win today. So I feel better than the other years, I think.

Q. How closely does synthetic grass resemble real grass?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. I don't know exactly. I don't know.

Q. Do you get the same kind of bounce?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think. Is like the same. I can't tell you the difference because I just practiced three days.

Q. In Las Vegas, you’re a 60‑1 shot to win this tournament, which means you're an extreme outsider. Do you think you have a lot better chance than that?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It's okay, yeah? Not bad, yeah. No, I think is more than the other years. Is okay, I'm happy.

Q. What does it tell about the development of tennis that for the first time I think this year you, as the prize money leader amongst the men, have earned less than the top two or top three women?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: At least I have to win the same money as the Top 20, no? But is not happen this. I think is not so good for me, and good for them.

Q. How is it explainable?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Nicola (Arzani) can tell you (laughter).

Posted by nana at 12:43 AM

One more article translated by Ana =D

Original Article: http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/story?id=168753
June 26, 2003

Ferrero: Winning isn't everything

For the Spaniard, moving on to the third round because his opponent, the Frenchman Nicolas Escude, retired is not the best way to do it.

LONDON (EFE)-- The Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, current champion of Roland Garros, said that he had played "very good tennis," that he feels "great" about his game, but he felt bad about advancing to the third round of Wimbledon because of an injury from his opponent, the Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

"I would have liked to have won in a different way," indicated Ferrero who won the encounter by 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, and Escude's retirement due to a thigh injury.

"Beating Escude has given me a lot of confidence, it's not easy to play against him," said Ferrero, in addition to the fact that for him, this victory wasn't that good.

"I wanted to be on the court more time, and I wanted to win. But I didn't want to win like this. It's not a good victory," said the Spanish tennis player.

The Valencian, however, recognized that this year he's playing much better than in previous years. He seemed positive about the upcoming matches.

"I feel great. I hope to stay this way throughout the tournament; I'm more comfortable and I'm playing better than other years," he said.

For Ferrero, besides having done well on the court, the most important thing was "having resisted well mentally."

Although he admitted to not having the best preparation for Wimbledon, the Roland Garros Champion assured that his intentions are to play well at this competition too. In addition, here he doesn't have the great pressure
that he did in Paris, where he was one of the favorites.

"Here I don't have the pressure that there was at Roland Garros, where in every press conference they asked me if I thought I was going to win. Here every victory is a surprise," he emphasized.

With respect to winning another title, the Valencian was modest and confessed that he doesn't think about that possibility. Right now, what most concerns him is "playing well and having a good time."

"I'm young and I don't need to be worrying," said Ferrero.

Posted by nana at 3:41 PM

Big THANKS to Ana for translating these!! The first one is a pre-Wimbledon interview and the second is an article written after JC's first round win over Lisnard. Enjoy!

Original Article: http://es.sports.yahoo.com/030623/145/2szwk.html
June 23, 2003

Ferrero: "My goal is to leave Wimbledon with the number 1"

JOAN SOLSONA, Barcelona - Juan Carlos Ferrero hasn't come down yet from the cloud he got on in Paris after lifting the Coupe de Musketeers at Roland Garros. The player from Valencia is living the sweetest moment of his five years as a professional and wants to let his tennis loose on the grass of the All England Tennis Club which hosts Wimbledon.

It's only been two weeks since you were crowned in the French Grand Slam, how do you arrive at Wimbledon?

- I'm great, although I've only been able to practice five days because of the many commitments I've had recently. To play well on grass you have to change your clay "chip" and concentrate especially on the serve and volley. In London, a break is almost like a set in your favor and it shouldn't bother you too much to get aced because it's completely
normal.

The grass event catches you too close in date to Roland Garros?

- It's clear that I would prefer there to be more days in between to prepare for the conditions of this Grand Slam. It would be nice if the organization considered a change of dates, but the most important thing is to take well to the grass and I've always had a good feeling here.

In Wimbledon, your third consecutive appearance, the fans are expecting a lot from Ferrero. You even dared to say after winning in Paris that you were going for the English tournament. The British press put it on all their headlines.

- I said it sort of as a joke in the excitement of the moment. There are a lot of people capable of winning the trophy, but I think back to last year and the final was between two baseliners like Hewitt and Nalbandian. If an Argentinean can reach the last round, the Spanish can do it too. Wimbledon isn't just for players who serve and volley anymore.

What are your goals on grass here?

- To do better than the 3rd round of 2001 and, above all, to leave Wimbledon with the number one world ranking, which is for me the highest you can strive for as a professional. On grass you have to come wanting it and I really want to achieve a great result at the third Slam of the year.

I suppose you are keeping an eye on Andre Agassi, current top player in the circuit, and Lleyton Hewitt, who is also close to the number one ranking of the ATP this season.

- I will follow their results very closely, but I haven't had the time to do any calculations about my options of leaving London as number one. Hewitt defends his title from last year (1000 points) and that means, right now, Agassi is the main rival.

Hewitt has on the horizon the final in Cincinnati and the semifinals at the US Open. Agassi the final at the US Open. Are you aware that the number one depends on what you do in the next two months?

- I know that I have to take advantage more than ever of this summer season and get ahead since I only have two rounds at the US Open 2002. Either way, I will have to be in fine form in Kitzbuhel because I defend a final, and in Cincinnati, with the semifinal I lost to Carlos Moy?. In the next two months I have more options than ever to reach the highest in the sport of tennis.

Pete Sampras, seven times a champion at the All England Club, won't be on the British grass and the draw is more open than ever. Who are Ferrero's favorites?

- The servers have a bit of an advantage, along with the usual players, like Federer, Agassi, Roddick or Hewitt. We'll have to see how the Brit Tim Henman progresses, because I'm sure he'll want to do well for his crowd.

At the moment you appear as the number one in the Champions Race and are guaranteed classification for the Master Cup in Houston.

- It's a great satisfaction, basically because I've doubled my points from last year.

----------------------------


Original Article: http://es.sports.yahoo.com/030624/4/2t2qg.html
June 24, 2003

Tenis/Wimbledon - Ferrero: "The truth is I felt very good from the start"

The Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero made positive conclusions about his debut in Wimbledon where he achieved a comfortable victory against the Frenchman Juan René Lisnard by 6-2, 6-1, 6-3. "The truth is I felt very good on the court from the start, playing with my forehand from the baseline. I served well, with 61% on my first serve, which is very good
on grass," he said.

The tennis player from Onteniente talked about some of the keys to approaching his matches in Wimbledon. "On clay you can come back, here you play very fast and the serve is fundamental. Psychologically you have to try and stay calm," said the Valencian, who recently won his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

With respect to Hewitt's first round loss, which puts him closer to his goal of finishing the season as number one, he said: "I think Hewitt's nerves got the best of him, although his loss does benefit me. I'm sorry for him because I like him, but this is good for me."

"Here things are different. I told Martin Verkerk (his opponent in the Roland Garros Final) today that with his serve he was assured at least a tie break here, and there you saw, he lost (6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1) against the Swede Robin Soderling, a qualifier," he added.

Lastly, about the fact that he played his first match on Centre Court, he concluded: "Here they respect me a lot and they've put me on Centre Court. Actually, in the last few years I've played on Centre Court or Court One
almost always."

Posted by nana at 7:56 AM

Order of Play Court 2 12.00 noon Start

1. Gentlemen's Singles - 3rd Rnd.
Mark Philippoussis (AUS) v. Radek Stepanek (CZE)[35]

followed by:
2. Ladies' Singles - 3rd Rnd.
Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)[3] v. Alicia Molik (AUS)

3. Gentlemen's Singles - 3rd Rnd.
Sargis Sargsian (ARM) v. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3]

Posted by nana at 7:06 AM

Day 6 Preview

[...]

Juan Carlos Ferrero, not the best-known tennis player in these parts despite his recent French Open triumph, is anxious to become a third seed with more profile and accordingly is speeding up his attempts to conquer the English language. We shall see the results after his Court 2 clash against the Armenian with a name straight out of Catch 22, Sargis Sargsian, who put out the American hunk, James Blake, in the last round and will therefore need careful watching by Ferrero as he tackles the double challenge of our grass and our language.

Posted by nana at 7:03 AM

Photos from JC's second round match against Escude
6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3

Pic 1 backhand
Pic 2 wave
Pic 3 eyeing the ball
Pic 4 jump
Pic 5 return
Pic 6 close up
Pic 7 victory wave from round 1 match

--------------------------------
Ferrero Through as Escude Retires

Juan Carlos Ferrero, the third seed and world number three, is keen to emulate Bjorn Borg's achievement by winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year.

Such a feat would no doubt shoot him up the rankings and realise his other ambition - that of becoming world number one. But he will have to pick up his game if he is to achieve those goals, progressing on this occasion by courtesy of a retirement.

Before that, Nicolas Escude exposed a few weaknesses in the Spaniard's game with his powerfully struck flat shots feeding off the high bouncing balls Ferrero honed on the European clay courts. He was aided by some indecision in the seeded player's mind during the first hour of the match.

Many of those problems were exploited in the opening set which saw Escude, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, gain control to force a tiebreak that he went on to claim 7-5, having first trailed 1-4.

However, the 27-year-old Frenchman who has dropped down the rankings to 61 as a result of a string of injuries collected over the year - a strained right hamstring, a hip injury and a groin strain - felt it necessary to have a quick chat with the trainer during the second set.

Immediately Ferrero's confidence grew as he executed his strokes with more conviction. He earned a well deserved break, served out to level and broke in the opening game of the third.

At deuce with Ferrero serving 2-1 up, Escude did the splits and decided to call a trainer for treatment to the top of his left thigh. That proved extremely effective and he recovered his service break.

Two games later, Ferrero watched in astonishment as his supposedly injured opponent flung himself around the court to save three break points but he regained the advantage at the next opportunity.

Two games later, the Frenchman accepted that he would not be able to survive a five-setter and accepted the inevitable by retiring with the score in Ferrero's favour, 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-3.

His bravery was duly acknowledged by the packed Centre Court who were enjoying his battling performance but it was Ferrero who goes forward to meet Sargis Sargsian. That promises to be another huge hurdle for the Spaniard with big ambitions to fulfil.

Posted by nana at 7:57 AM

Post match interview - Day 2 [Thanks Ana ;) ]

Q. How does the grass feel?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It's good. Not bad. I just practice five days, you know, in grass, synthetic grass. I came here and I start to practice on Saturday morning, and that's it. I think sometimes when you less practice, you play better (smiling). You never know.

But it's okay. It's not so fast. It's okay.

Q. Not so fast?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Nice to come back to the Centre Court winning, because the last two matches I played there I lost, so...

Q. Does it feel any different at all from the last two times you played it?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. Maybe the opponent. Didn't push me all pression (sic) like Rusedski or Morrison with the serve maybe. I played more comfortable, you know, with not too much pression (sic), you know, playing good from base of line. Was okay for me.

Q. How long did you take off after the French Open before you hit a ball?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Until Wednesday, last Wednesday.

Q. You had 10 days with no tennis at all?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, nothing. Because I had to do some ‑ not some ‑ a lot of things in Spain. You know, I had to go to Valencia, Onteniente, Villena, to see everybody. So I had to go as well to Italia two times.

Q. Happy time?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah.

Posted by nana at 8:00 AM

Pictures from JC's first round match against Lisnard

Pic 1: return
Pic 2: forehand
Pic 3: jump
Pic 4: reach
Pic 5: another return
Pic 6: backhand
Pic 7
Pic 8

--------------------------------------------------------------
Ferrero Finds His Feet on Grass

Juan Carlos Ferrero seems to be having little trouble adapting from the clay of Roland Garros to the grass of Wimbledon. Following his first Grand Slam success at the French Open earlier this month, the 23-year-old Spaniard was in confident and impressive mood as he dismissed the Frenchman, Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 in just one hour and 21 minutes on Centre Court.

Lisnard, also 23 but ranked 94th in the world compared with Ferrero's ranking of three, was making his Wimbledon debut. It turned out to be a harsh one, with Ferrero's accuracy off the ground putting him on the defensive from the start. At least Lisnard had some inkling of what he might expect, since Ferrero had defeated him in straight sets at the Australian Open in January.

With Wimbledon's slower courts and heavier balls suiting his baseline style to perfection, Ferrero was never troubled. He pocketed the first set in half an hour and did even better in the second, needing only 23 minutes to establish a stranglehold on the match.

Lisnard made a better fight of it in the third set but unforced errors, of which he committed a total of 25, hampered his attempts to get back into the match. Ferrero broke to lead 3-2 and when two match points came up at 5-3 he needed only one, slamming a forehand service return past the Frenchman.

Ferrero hammered six aces and 24 winners, and an indication of his fine form was that he converted seven of the 10 break points that came his way.

Posted by nana at 7:27 AM

Order of Play

Centre Court 1.00 pm Start (Wow! JC's playing on center court!!)

1. Ladies' Singles - 1st Rnd.
Serena Williams (USA)[1] v. Jill Craybas (USA)
followed by:
2. Gentlemen's Singles - 1st Rnd.
Jamie Delgado (GBR) v. Andre Agassi (USA)[2]
3. Gentlemen's Singles - 1st Rnd.
Jean-Rene Lisnard (FRA) v. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3]

Posted by nana at 6:58 AM

JC has been nominated for Best Male Tennis Player in this year's ESPY awards!!! So go to atptour.com and vote for him!! =D

Posted by nana at 5:26 AM

Some really interesting articles and interviews translated by Ana.
Thank you so much *big hug*

Spanish Radio Interview

Note: This interview was done on a Spanish radio station the evening of Sunday, June 8 by telephone. HUGE thanks to Laura for transcribing it and sending it to the www.jcferrero.net mailing list. I also want to apologize because the exchange between Sete and Juan Carlos isn't as exact as I would have liked. There was a lot of spanish slang used by the both of them and it just didn't translate very well.

Interviewer (I): Congratulations, how are you doing right now?

Antonio Martinez Cascales (AMC): Thank you very much, well right now we have calmed down, but very happy above all.

I: Yesterday we talked about how you could plan out this match and you told us it was important that Juan Carlos Ferrero tried to break Verkerk's serve. First game, first break and from then on everything was a little easier, right?

AMC: Yes, the truth is he did exactly what he had to do and from the first game he returned very well and he dismantled the Dutchman's game.

I: It's not enough to have just one Grand Slam now, right?

AMC: No, no, we're not going to settle. Juan Carlos I believe is an ambitious person, in the good sense of the word, and I think this will help him have even more confidence in his possibilities.

I: And you have had confidence in Ferrero since he was little, how do you feel?

AMC: Well I have a feeling of happiness, but for him, because he's achieved one of his most wanted goals. [Laura's note: You can hear noises in the background. It sounds like his sisters yelling and all the people that are there at the dinner]

I: Are you still going to shave your head?

AMC: I already have it shaved.

I: You don't say?!

AMC: Yes, it was done here at the Ritz hotel. They invited us to dinner, very nice of them, and there's a patio here and Juan Carlos started to shave us all with the little electric razor.

I: Well, do you have the champion around there, Antonio??

AMC: Yes, let me get him for you.

I: Champion!

Juan Carlos Ferrero (JCF): Hello! How are you? Good evening.

I: Congratulations!

JCF: Thanks.

I: Have you had a chance to eat dinner yet?

JCF: Well, I'm trying to now, haha.

I: Because you were busy doing other things before eating your coach told us, no??

JCF: Yes, having a little fun. Cutting a little hair.

I: Are you already an expert with a razor like with a racket?

JCF: Ahh!! That's very easy!! It's much easier to cut hair, for sure.

I: So, when one wins a Grand Slam, it's all the same, no? The interviews, the pictures, how tired you are... you can put up with all of it, no?

JCF: Man you can put up with it to a certain point, but well, what motivates me most is that I've won Roland Garros and I have to celebrate it.

I: How is the Ferrero from yesterday different from the one today?

JCF: Well, today I am much calmer. Last night I was thinking about the match, focused, thinking about everything that I had to do and I really wanted to play already. Today is different in that I now have a Roland Garros.

I: Is your preparation now going to be geared more towards hard court?

JCF: Well, I think that I adapt very quickly to hard court. I've always liked to play on hard court a lot so I wouldn't mind playing on hard court again.

I: Looking back, how do you see those days when you were 16 and you lost your mother and you said that you didn't want to play tennis anymore. How do you remember that now?

JCF: Well, I don't remember it very often because it's not a good subject for me, but well, it is a memory and every time I have a victory I remember.

I: Today the dedication to the heavens was very special.

JCF: Yes, that was very clear.

I: And special for Antonio, for Miguel [Maeso, physical trainer], for Victor [Muñoz, physiotherapist] and two other friends that had to shave their heads. The one who should have shaved his head is you, no?

JCF: No, I've made too many changes and I'm good the way I am. They're the ones who made the bet and had to do it.

I: Hey, is it true that your parents spent more money on switches then on rackets?

JCF: No, now that's not how it is.

I: Then why do people say that?

JCF: It's just nonsense, a little joke, nothing special, haha.

I: Does this victory bring with it a new car?

JCF: No, not this time, no.

I: You have five I think, right?

JCF: Come on!! I have two!

I: Today we have the chance to talk to a friend of yours who you also dedicated this win to. The signature on the camera lens was for a motorcycle driver, no?

JCF: Yes, well the truth is we are very good friends, little by little we've become friends and well, we are close. I really like motorcycles and when I can, I go see him since he's a friend and one of the best drivers out there right now.

I: And today, for those that saw the Grand Prix of Italy, before the race, Sete Gibernau came out with a flyer saying: "Vamos J.C. Ferrero!!" Sete!! Good evening!!

Sete Gibernau (SG): Hello!!

I: Where have we caught you now, in Italy or here already?

SG: No, in Italy still.

I: Did you see the tennis match?

SG: Yes, of course, I've seen so much of it.

I: Did you talk with Juan Carlos already?

SG: Yes, I called him to congratulate him because he's amazing.

I: Well I think he's listening to you right now.

SG: Hey!

JCF: Duuuude!!

SG: What's going on dude? You've brightened my day, because my race has been shit, but it was worth it for yours!

JCF: Damn that sucks!! But, well... there are good days and bad days.

SG: Yeah, well, it's ok, but better luck next week. I'll see you in Barcelona right man??

JCF: Oh yeah, of course!!

SG: Come on! He makes me suffer too much!! damn!!

JCF: Nooo, and you don't do the same to me, no??? In Le Mans the other day you didn't, nooo.

SF: Hahaha. It's a shame that it coincided with one of my races this year, otherwise I would have been there!! We were so close to taking a helicopter and going over there to surprise you, but in the end we couldn't.

JCF: You dog!!

SG: Hahaha, well man, enjoy and we'll see each other next week.

JCF: Ok, we'll see each other then.

SG: Come on dude, a hug!!

JCF: Come on man, a hug!!

I: Juan Carlos, do you get vacation now?

JCF: Yes, I will be resting for a week.

I: Beach, country, mountains?

JCF: The circuits.

I: Ahh, very well. [Laura's note: You can hear Sete laughing in the background] Tonight there should be some dancing, no?

JCF: Yes, we'll go. Now we've got to celebrate.

I: A few years ago at the Petit Ases tournament you went to a party in your tracksuit and had the courage to ask Kournikova to dance. Today you are a little more dressed up, no?

JCF: Yes, today a little more. It's clear that then I didn't have much experience yet. [Laura's note: more laughing from Sete]

I: Has Anna called you to congratulate you?

JCF: Yeah man, she called me. Last year we were talking some and then this year again.

I: Oh really?

SG: Ahhhh! who called? who called?

JCF: Well, me! haha.

I: And you call her to congratulate her on her wins?

JCF: Uuuhh, yeah, except lately she hasn't had many. [Laura's note: Now they're all really laughing] I called her the other day to congratulate her because her and Enrique [Iglesias] got married.

I: I thought they said that wasn't true?

JCF: Nooo, I'm joking, I'm joking. hehe.

I: Well Juan Carlos, we'll let you enjoy your party. Have a good time!

JCF: Bye!! Bye Sete!!! Bye!

---------------------------
Original article: Spain welcomes the new "French" king Juan Carlos Ferrero from Yahoo! España
June 9, 2003

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain welcomed Juan Carlos Ferrero on Monday with compliments and honors, after the 23 year old player succeeded his countryman Albert Costa as the new king of Roland Garros.

"Juan Carlos I - King of France," proclaimed the headline of the sporting newspaper, Marca, along with a photograph of Ferrero kissing the trophy cup after his definitive victory against the Dutchman Martin Verkerk on Sunday.

Ferrero broke the much feared serve of Verkerk in the first game and gave up only one game in the first set. He won 6-1 in just 35 minutes.

Thinking ahead and playing better than his opponent, Ferrero employed all of is shots to disarm the potent Dutchman. Besides a brief struggle in the second set, there wasn't much Verkerk could do to stop the Spanish player from achieving the most comfortable win since Bjorn Borg's victory against the Argentinean Guillermo Vilas in 1978.

The victory for the Valencian against the Dutch player, who possesses a strong serve, made him the sixth Spanish player to conquer Roland Garros in men's singles and confirmed the domination of the Spanish on clay.

Royal Congratulations

Ferrero immediately received the corresponding congratulations by telegram from their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain who were on their way to Bulgaria.

"We are glad, and even though we would have liked to hug you personally, we do so from an altitude of 32,000 feet. With affection and hug," said the message sent by the King Juan Carlos I and the Queen Sofia.

For Ferrero, his first victory at a Grand Slam has helped to clear the doubts about his ability to win one of the four great tournaments of the ATP circuit.

"It's the tournament I always wanted to win, since the first time I came, at 12 years old," he said. Ferrero, who was already a favorite last year, lost then in four sets to his countryman Albert Costa. Later he fell to an inspired Lleyton Hewitt in an exciting five set match in the Masters Cup in Shanghai.

But the titles he's obtained this year in Montecarlo and Valencia have helped Ferrero gain the confidence necessary to get his most important victory to date.

Ferrero dedicated the win to his mother, whose passing away due to cancer when he was 16 years old almost made him give up tennis.

"It's for you up there," he said in some declarations obtained by TVE when he received the trophy.

"I think that she was watching from up there and in the front row," he said looking up at the sky.

----------------------------
Original article: Juan Carlos Ferrero: "It's for you mamá" from HOLA
June 9, 2003

The memory of his mother Rosario has accompanied him on all the tennis courts of the world since she passed away in 1996, the victim of a serious illness. The gesture to celebrate his victories, looking up at the sky and sending her the dedication "It's for you mamá," repeated itself again in Paris. Kneeling and full of joy, the tennis player from Onteniente dedicated to his mother the maximum triumph of his sporting career. After this nice gesture, he ran to hug his loved ones who were waiting in the stands: his father, his sisters, Laura and Ana, his coach Antonio and a beautiful young girl who became the center of attention after congratulating him with passionate kiss. However, the young Valencian has not wanted to comment on the subject. He's simply limited himself to strolling along with her holding hands at the party in his honor at the Spanish Embassy in Paris.

His goal: to be number one
The 23 year old Spanish tennis player achieved his biggest dream since childhood by proclaiming himself the Roland Garros Champion, his first Grand Slam title. The first time he stepped on the center court of the Parisian tournament was when he was just 12 years old and he promised himself he would win it one day. Now his next goal is to become number one in the world, taking down Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt. Only 385 points separate him from Hewitt, the current number one of the ATP list.

Message from the King
The winner of Roland Garros received a telegram from the King and Queen of Spain to congratulate him on his victory in Paris. "On route to Bulgaria we found out about your victory. We are glad, and even though we would have liked to hug you personally, we do so from an altitude of 32,000 feet. With affection and hug. Juan Carlos King. Sofia Queen."

Posted by nana at 4:15 AM

Original article: Ferrero, wants more from ESPN Deportes
Sunday, June 8, 2003

After winning Roland Garros, the Spaniard assured that he hopes it will be the first of many Grand Slams he will win

PARIS (EFE) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero doesn't want his win in Roland Garros to be a one time story, but the first of many Grand Slams he hopes to win in his career. He also wants to be number one in the world.

"Now that I've won here I'm thinking about other Grand Slams, I'm thinking of Wimbledon, the US and Australian Open. I've won this one and I want to win a different one, although now I will concentrate more on winning one on hard court," said the tennis player.

Ferrero reiterated that one of the top priorities in his career is to be number one in the world, a goal that is closer than ever.

"I'm going to try and be one of the best tennis players in the world, by winning lots of tournaments and becoming number one. I won't stop working until I achieve it," he said.

The player indicated that in his search for the number one, the Australian Lleyton Hewitt will be his main rival. "Now he has all the pressure, because he has points to defend in Wimbledon," where he won last year.

The Spaniard said that this win in Roland Garros means that he has taken "that small jump" that in other occasions had separated him from the victory in other important finals, like Paris last year or the Masters in Shanghai where he lost to Hewitt.

"Even though I didn't win those tournaments, my coach and I thought I was a great player. Because I lost to Hewitt by just two games I didn't think I was worse a player than him," commented the tennis player.

Ferrero dedicated his win to "all the people who have believed" in him and he had a special thought for his mother, who passed away when he was 16 years old. "She was up there watching the match from the first row," he said.

"When I won I don't know what I felt, a lot of emotions, joy for myself and the people around me. I thought a little about them and also in myself. It's been special because it is the first time. In that moment I thought: 'I have it now, and it'll never slip away,'" he said.

As soon as the match was over, the player jumped into the stands towards the box where his family and coach were. Later back on the court, he made a special dedication to his friend Sete Gibernau, whose name he wrote on the television camera where the winners of the matches usually sign.

"He had a flyer where he wrote 'Vamos Juan Carlos' and I returned the favor like that," said Ferrero, who confessed that always when he can he watches the Catalan driver's races.

With respect to today's match, Ferrero assures he played "with a lot of confidence" and he said that the key was that he returned "very well."

"Physically and mentally I was in perfect condition. His best weapon is his serve and I returned very well and didn't drop my rhythm during the whole match. I think it's been very hard for him," he said

"Last year I played a bad final and this year, before the match, I thought back and told myself that I had to give the maximum. I think I came out with that focus and started well. I did everything very well and it was a perfect final," he commented.

Ferrero, who last year fell in the final and the previous two in the semifinals, said he never had doubts that he could win this tournament one day. "Now I think that I will win it again," he said.

------------------------
Original article: Ferrero, the King of Paris from ESPN Deportes
Sunday, June 8, 2003

[...]

A killer forehand from the baseline put an end to the match and also the fear and insecurities of Ferrero after his defeat in the Masters of Shanghai against Hewitt, and on various occasions in Paris. Now he's promised to play with more calmness and to aspire for more.

Yannick Noah, winner 20 years ago, just accepted on Saturday to present the trophy, because of a problem with the organization that denied him a special invitation to participate.

"I congratulate Martin for his special tournament and Juan Carlos for his first Grand Slam. I hope you do better than me, and that you don't stop here," said Noah very seriously beside the President of the French Federation, Christian Bimes, with whom me maintains a not so cordial relationship.

"I think it was the dream of my whole life, and now that it's a reality it still hasn't sunk in. Since I was 12 years old and I came here for the first time, I've always wanted to finish with a victory in the last match. Now I've won the title and I will play more calmly next year," said Ferrero.

After winning the last point, the Spaniard threw his racket and kneeled in the dirt. Then he lifted his two index fingers to the sky in memory of his mother Rosario, who passed away when he was 16. His thoughts were for her when he had the trophy in his arms, "I dedicate it to you too, up there."

"I've played two incredible weeks, but today was the most special day of my life. This has been the tournament I've wanted to win and now I have it in my pocket. I dedicate it to all the people that love me and support me. I hope it doesn't stop with this title and that I win many more and that I can dedicate them to you all," added the Valencian who jumped up into the stands to hug his coach, Antonio Martinez Cascales, his sisters Laura and Ana, his father Eduardo, and to then kiss his girlfriend Patricia Bonilla.

[...]

Nobody had won the Paris final in 3 sets since the also Spanish Carlos Moyá defeated his countryman Alex Corretja in 3 sets in 1998.

For this victory Ferrero wins a check for 840,000 euros and 200 points for the Champions Race. Tomorrow Monday he will appear as number one. He was a junior finalist of the tournament in 1998. With his victory today he becomes the first since the Austrian Thomas Muster (1995) to win the tournament.

----------------------------
Original article: Ferrero conquers Paris from Antena 3 Noticias
June 9, 2003

Hitting a switch on the wall with the ball. That is how Ferrero started playing tennis. He was seven years old and he was trying to hit a switch on the wall of the garage of his house. Since then there have been many successes and disappointments from a very shy, hard working and polite person. A young man of 23 years who every time he wins a title looks up at the heavens because that is where his mother is. To her he dedicates all his wins.

That blow at 16 years old made him think about leaving it all, but the support of his father, two sisters and his coach stopped him. Despite appearing just five years ago at a reception at the Spanish Embassy in Paris, in the shadow of Arantxa [Sanchez Vicario], Moyà and Corretja with a less formal look, everyone already knew he'd become the successor of Santana. He didn't take long to live up to the expectations. The next year he won his first tournament in Mallorca and Corretja said then a star had been born. A star that he hugged and paraded on his shoulders in Barcelona when he helped win the Davis Cup for Spain.... Although he continued with one goal in his head- Ferrero admitted yesterday that since he was 12 years old, when he first played in Paris, it was his dream to become the champion in Paris.

A chance that Costa took from him last year and Kuerten twice before. But his tenacity and mental strength helped him achieve it, virtues that along with discretion and humility have allowed him to deal with an uncomfortable fame. His tastes haven't changed and he's still in love with speed, video games, football and the dogs from his school in Villena. The only thing that's different is his account (about 7 and a half million euros) and his popularity. Juanqui is not only on informal terms with the King, but in his town, Onteniente, he's the only neighbor with the golden medal. The "mosquito" still has a lot more to bite.

-----------------------
Original article: Ontinyent fills its plaza to honor Ferrero from Antena 3 Noticias
June 10, 2003

The truth is seeing what happened in Ontinyent, we ask ourselves who enjoyed it more, Ferrero or the neighbors that came to the Plaza Mayor. Men and women, children and elders, everyone wanted to be with the favorite son of a town, which Ferrero is making famous....

The most famous neighbor of Ontinyent didn't deserve any less. He was welcomed with honors, part president- part superstar, in a plaza where screaming kids were waiting for him. The neighbors wouldn't stop cheering on their idol by singing along with "We are the Champions." Everyone wanted to say something to him.

[...]

The one who made a new promise was Juan Carlos' father who after shaving his head threatens with stronger emotions. "Maybe bungee jumping or sky diving," if he wins another Grand Slam. It was a very special day for the whole family. Especially one of his sisters who wanted to show off the trophy so much that some neighbors may have seen it a little too close. Something they wouldn't mind if he comes back soon with a new trophy.

--------------------
Original article: AS.com

Ferrero: "I want to be dominant in the circuit"
To do so he'll have to do better than Agassi and Hewitt in Wimbledon

Happy exhaustion. The tennis player from Ontinyent hasn't stopped since he won Roland Garros.

[...] The tennis player assured that his desire is "to be dominant in all the circuit, not just clay. I also play well on hard court and I'd like win someday the Australian or the US Open." With his victory in the Parisian tournament, the Champions Race number one shut the mouths of those that saw him as incapable of winning a Grand Slam and considered him a looser: "I've proved that they were wrong about me."

[...]

-----------------------------
Original article: A new car for the parking lot from El Mundo Deportivo
June 9, 2003

"Convince Antonio to let me buy an Aston Martin Vanquish." Juan Carlos needs to bend- it's a matter of hours- his coaches will to satisfy the whim of a champion, another car for his collection. It's not an issue of money, especially after getting the check for 840,000 euros, but Martinez Cascales wants to first free up some space in the parking. "He has a Mitsubishi, a Mercedes, a Renault Spider and a Porsche. He's just signed with Mazda and they're giving him an RX8. He can buy the Aston Martin, but first he needs to get rid of one of the ones he already has, because there are too many." Cars are the Valencian's passion, a fan of the speed.

[...]

Yesterday Ferrero was ready for everything. A smile filled his face, and jokes flowed in his responses [during the press conference]. "I don't know anything about that. I saw three women in yellow and I grabbed the first one I could." His sisters, Ana and Laura, and two friends were were matching in white pants, yellow tops and red headbands. In the box there were congratulations from everyone: Eduardo, his father, who immortalized the trophy presentation on a video camera; Antonio Martínez Cascales; Miguel Maeso, the physical trainer; Víctor Muñoz, the physiotherapist; David Serrahima. But there was a different kiss for one of the women, a brown haired girl by the name of Patricia Bonilla.

The group was ready for a "longer night than usual," said Cascales, who promised to go through with shaving his head. Ferrero didn't get in on the game. "I won't do anymore experiments with my hair."

[...]

-----------------------
Original article: In the name of his mother from El Mundo Deportivo
June 9, 2003

The first thought is always for her, the driving force in his life. Juan Carlos Ferrero's look merges with the sky, in a meeting with Rosario Donat, the mother he lost at 16 years old. At the time he was frustrated, by the cruelty of a cancer that his family had hidden from him until it was no longer possible, so much that he considered putting away the racket. The love of his father, Eduardo, and his sisters, Ana and Laura, multiplied itself to help soften the blow. He decided to continue with what he liked most, to honor his mother, a feeling he only makes public for very important matches.

A child that came about because his father insisted on expanding the family and wanted to have a son.... In the basement of the house, Eduardo and little Juan Carlos enjoyed themselves by hitting balls at the wall. The boy developed precision by hitting a switch.

"He had a natural gift, he was born with special forehand hit," says Eduardo. Juan Carlos signed up at the tennis school in his hometown Ontinyent and then the one in Gandia. The youngest champion of the Communidad Valenciana, the federation offered him the option of continuing his development at a school located 40 km from home, in Villena (Alicante).

One night in October of 1991, Juan Carlos Ferrero met at that club Antonio Martinez Cascales, his coach since then. His coach remembers that he "had to stop the match when Juan Carlos was winning 5-1. I didn't want it to affect the boy, one of the best in the school, against whom he was playing."

There weren't professional doubts, but personal ones. The boy had a "serious" personality, extremely introverted. Months later, after a trip to the lake, a long conversation produced a union between the two. The loyalty of the tennis player has been unfazed over the years. He refused various offers; he didn't want to go to the academy of the American Nick Bollettieri, or the Spanish Federation Center in Sant Cugat. Firm, he didn't speak to Cascales for days, after he encouraged him to go to Barcelona, fearing that his career would be halted by the lack of rivals at his level in Villena.

Currently Ferrero and Cascales are partners in the Academy Equelite Juan Carlos Ferrero of Villena. The two took on this year the venture of starting an ATP tournament in Valencia, whose director is Miguel Maeso, the tennis player's physical trainer.

Junior finalist of Roland Garros in 1998 (he lost to Fernando Gonzalez), he signed a contract with the multinational agency IMG. He finished that season as 345 in the world ranking. Two months later he was already number 43 in the ATP and had a title to his name, the Palma de Mallorca. He defeated Alex Corretja, who said "today a star is born." He confirmed this in the Davis Cup 2000, where he played the winning point for Spain's victory against Australia. The "mosquito" or "chavalito," nicknames he now tosses aside, also learned the other side of things, with losses in Roland Garros and the Masters last year.

With the coveted Roland Garros on his list, his next dream is to be number one in the world. Tennis is everything. He lives in Villena along with the rest of the players at the academy. His only privilege is that he doesn't have to share a room. There he plays with his dogs, Lasca and Roca, and he takes advantage of his free time by quenching his thirst for gasoline. He loves cars and motorcycles- one of his best friends is Sete Gibernau- and adventure sports. Although his real passion is his family. One of his loved ones was his grandfather who lived in the house in Ontinyent. "At 72 years old he only drank wine and was still climbing tree," comments Juan Carlos amused, character and form by and for Rosario Donat.

Posted by nana at 4:13 AM

Juan Carlos Ferrero Celebrates
from atptour.com

After winning his first Grand Slam at Roland Garros, Juan Carlos Ferrero posed for photos with his well-deserved Roland Garros trophy, then gathered with friends and family members for a true champion's celebration.

pic: After winning Roland Garros, Ferrero went to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to pose with his trophy.

pic: Minutes after the win, Ferrero poses in the locker room with his coach, Antonio Martinez Cascales (bottom right), his physiotherapist Victor Moreno (top left) and his manager David Serrahima (top left).

pic: The job of a tennis player does not finish on court. Ferrero poses for photographers at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

pic: Ferrero had 48 guests in his box during the final. Here, they all pose with the champion after his win.

pic: Ferrero vowed to shave his team members' hair if he won. After his victory, he does the honor on coach, Antonio Martinez Cascales

pic: The promise is completed. Ferrero's coach, physical trainer, physiotherapist, manager, father, brother-in-law and doctor were all shaved personally by Ferrero!

Posted by nana at 10:04 AM

Post match interview

Q. Juan Carlos, how does it feel to be sitting next to that trophy?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm feeling so happy, you know. I mean, you know, is very special to win the tournament that you want to win.
So right now I'm feeling great, but maybe tomorrow I will feel more exciting, because tomorrow, you know, I will stay better than today, of course.

Q. I think it's the first time anyone's been able to leap into the box in just one leap (laughter). You didn't have to climb.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah...
I'm athletic (smiling).

Q. Was it the final you expected, perhaps?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I was thinking that if I return well his serve, I will have so many chance to win. I think the key of the match was that mentally I was perfect, you know, all the time I was perfect.
Also, when he break me in the second set, you know, I put mentally strong and I keep going all the time to try to break again. And I did it well.
And, you know, I think mentally today was very, very hard.

Q. How gratifying is it to keep that kind of rhythm throughout the entire match? Not only mentally were you strong, but your strokes seemed almost perfect with everything - your return, the serve.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, you know, I think I had the experience last year to play bad the final, you know. And this time, before the match, you know, I was thinking that I have to try to give my best, to try to give my best mentally, physically, tennistically.
So I think I went to the court so concentrate since the beginning of the match. I break his serve in the first game, and I start to feel so good all the time from the base of the line, return, serving.
So I think was the perfect final for me.

Q. Was there ever a time, say, in the last year, after you lost to Albert, that you thought, "As good as I've been at Roland Garros, maybe I'll never win the title"? "Maybe I'll play my best tennis, but it will go for somebody else"? Or did you always believe you could do it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, I believe always that I can win Roland Garros. If not last year, maybe this year, maybe the next -- in the next year.
But always I think that one time I can win. Right now, I think that I can win more times, because this time I think I play a wonderful two weeks - only one match five sets against Gonzalez, one in four, all the rest in three. So I think I play very, very good two weeks.

Q. Does the injury you had in Rome in a way help you to be more fresh mentally and physically for this tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know exactly, because if I didn't have the injury in my arm, I had to play Hamburg, just one more tournament that I didn't play.
So, you know, I think I don't know if the injury help me or not, but, finally, I think I play good because I'm very good physically. So I think was very important.

Q. Now that you won a Grand Slam title, do you say to yourself, "Okay, I've done this. Now I'm a truly elite player. I'm there with Lleyton, Albert, I'm there with Agassi. Now I can legitimately call myself one of the top guys"?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think I am one of the top guys, you know. I am No. 1 in the Race. I don't know in the entry what I'm gonna be, but...

Q. Three.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Still 3... (Shaking his head.)
What's that shit, huh (laughter)?
You know, I think maybe I'm gonna think more in Wimbledon or US Open, because how I win this tournament, I want to win another tournament different of this.
But, you know, also I gonna try to win again this tournament. But, mentally, you know, my mentally right now is US Open or Australia or Wimbledon because I want to win the tournament in hard court - I mean Grand Slam.

Q. How are you going to spend the next two weeks?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The next week I'm gonna take a rest and the next week I'm gonna practice in grass court in Spain.

Q. In Spain?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, synthetic. And I'm gonna win a tournament in Wimbledon, no (laughter)?

Q. It would be nice.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: (Smiling).

Q. How will you plan to celebrate your victory tonight?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Who knows? I don't know. I'm gonna take dinner and then we gonna go to party, we're gonna do a party. Party.

Q. How are you going to spend the prize money?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm gonna buy an Aston Martin Vanquish.
No, I don't know. Nothing special.

Q. Which was the toughest match for you? Which was your toughest match for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think the match against Gonzalez. The match against Gonzalez, because was five sets and is one of the guys that is not easy to play against him.

Q. The fourth time was the good one, but this time you really controlled your match. You dominated Verkerk. Verkerk seemed to be an average player, and he was not the player we saw before.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, thank you very much. I believe the important thing is that I played well all along the match. I didn't allow him to become confident at any time in the match. I believe his main weapon is his serve, and I returned very well.
From the start, I made problems for him on returning his serve, and I broke him on the first game. So for him, it was difficult after that. He had to force himself on his serve, so he didn't serve so well. It was not easy for him.
However, it was also difficult for me. Today, it was quite windy. I'm used to playing with the wind, so I was not bothered particularly.

Q. It was a beautiful year: Quarters in Australia, a title here, without forcing too much.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, well...
Without forcing, we can't say that. You can't win without forcing yourself. Everywhere you go, you have to do your best. I believe I played well in Grand Slams, and I'm going to try to continue in the same way.
After, there's going to be Wimbledon and the US Open.

Q. What did you think of the man who ran around naked on the court?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I was a bit annoyed because I couldn't care less about him. I just had a break and it was a bit bothering. I saw how the bodyguard took hold of him strongly.

Q. Aren't you worried that someone can enter the court like that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, well, if that guy comes towards me, I feel secure because I know a security guard will be immediately between him and myself.

Q. What was the key moment in the match? What does it mean for you to win the first Grand Slam in your life?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't believe what I felt - I felt a lot of emotions, a lot of joy for myself, for people around me, my family, my coach, and all those people who supported me all along my career.
I thought about them at that moment. I thought about myself, too, because it was the first time I was living such a situation. I was watching the ground, and I thought, "This is in my pocket, and nobody can take it away from me."

Q. What is your next objective, now that you've won this tournament? Is it to be No. 1 or win another tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Be No. 1 is one of my priorities. It's the first priority, the top priority. I need 300 points more, or 375, or something. So this is the time I've been as close as possible to No. 1.
I think there will be pressure. In Wimbledon, I will try to come closer to No. 1.

Q. How do you feel now that you won?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Now that I won this tournament -- well, before, it was important to win this tournament. But now, everybody, I think, does the same. The top priority is to become No. 1. Now that I won this tournament, I want to be No. 1.

Q. Did you think about what you're going to do? Did you believe you would go up into the boxes the way you did?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I thought I would be able to make that jump.

Q. We saw you sign?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: When I went to sign, I wanted to write down "Juan Carlos Ferrero."

Q. He encouraged you a lot last year?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.

Q. You gave a big kiss to a girl. Do you have a good relationship with her?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know anything about that. Are you talking about my sister?
Three ladies were dressed in yellow. I chose the first one closest to me.

Q. When you see girls, does it relax you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, as soon as I can see them, I'm happy.

Q. In the box there were many Spanish members of the government. Is there any relationship between the Popular Party and yourself?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't talk about that. I like Eduardo because he's one of my friends, it's not because he belongs to the PP, Popular Party, in Spain that I'm friends with him.

Q. Your father surely lost some hair today.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, he has a lot of experience.
In the beginning, I said that I would buy an Aston Martin Vanquish, but now I'm not so keen about it. So I'm not going to do anything special now.

Q. Did you dedicate your victory to something? Did you think about someone?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, not someone special. There are many people I can think of. Many people helped me - my coach, my whole family. Everybody helped me to win.

Q. I didn't hear, someone talked about your mother. Do you have a special memory about that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, of course.

Q. The memory of your mother was in your mind during the match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, in my mind, she was in the first row.

Q. It's been years and years that you've been working hard. All this work was fruitful. This is your first Grand Slam.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I worked a lot. It's been a long time now. It's not because I won this tournament that I'm going to stop working; I'm going to try to become the best of the world. I'm going to try to win good tournaments and to become No. 1 in the world.
If I want to reach that goal, I have to continue to work. If I get there, I'll try to stay there as long as possible. It's the same as for any other player.

Q. This title makes you enter into history of tennis. Is it, for you, a relief, for your career?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, a little bit, because I went to the finals in Shanghai or in the French Open last year, and when you lose those finals, you lack a little plus.
Today, I won, so now I can be a bit relaxed more.
Although I had lost those finals before, I thought I was the best player I could have been at that moment. My coach, people around me, thought I was the best and that I couldn't win in the same conditions as Hewitt, but I showed today I could be at their level.
Of course winning tournaments, winning points, allows you to play relaxed because it's something you have behind you.

Q. Who was your main rival, Hewitt, Agassi?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think Hewitt is my main rival. Agassi is getting older. Maybe in two years he will think about retiring. Hewitt is one year younger than I am, so he'll stay longer in the tour to fight against me. There are other players we have to take into account also.

Q. (Question in Italian. )
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, beating Costa was a step towards the final. This year it was the semifinals, last year it was the finals, so I had a revenge to have this year, especially towards my friends. And Costa and myself are very good friends and there is no rivalry between us. It was just a match like any other match, and I tried to play better this year. It worked this year and I went to the finals.

Posted by nana at 7:14 AM

Even more pictures

pic: Relieved
pic: VICTORY!!!
pic: Forehand
pic: More kissy kissy with the cup
pic: Even more
pic: Mini fist pump
pic: Jump
pic: Yay!!
pic: Return
pic: JC on fire
pic: In action
pic: Sooo happy
pic: In front of the Arc de Triumphe
pic: Returning a ball

Posted by nana at 6:41 AM

Pictures from the final =)

pic: Verkerk and JC
pic: Follow through
pic: Verkerk and JC again
pic: Backhand
pic: Sticking out his tongue (too cute)
pic: On his knees
pic: Kissing the trophy
pic: Kissing the mystery girl (swoon)
pic: Hugging the trophy
pic: Pumped
pic: Victory at last
pic: Kisses for the crowd
pic: Lifting the cup
pic: Hoisting trophy again
pic: Backhand return
pic: Another return
pic: That trophy is so lucky =P
pic: Falling on his knees
pic: Being presented with the cup
pic: Forehand
pic: Battle cry
pic: Getting mauled by family (looks so happy here)
pic: With Verkerk's arm around shoulder
pic: Standing side-by-side with trophies
pic: Victory within reach
pic: Stretch

Posted by nana at 6:22 AM

New pix from RG site

pic: Towel
pic: Serve

Posted by nana at 4:40 AM

CHATRIER 3:00 PM Start

1. Men's Singles - Finals Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3] vs. Martin Verkerk (NED)
-----------------------------------------------------

10 Things You Might Not Have Known About… Juan Carlos Ferrero

He began playing tennis at age seven with his father, Eduardo, who often travels with his son.
He has two sisters, Ana and Laura.
His nicknames are "Mosquito," due to his speed and small physique and "Chavalito," which means "little kid".
As a youngster, he admired play of former No. 1 and two-time Roland-Garros champion Jim Courier.
He likes to collect motor bikes and cars (his favorite is a Renault Spider).
He is a fan of Real Madrid soccer team.
He draws his tennis inspiration from his mother, Rosario, who passed away when he was 17.
In Oct. 2001, he opened his own tennis school, "Equalite J.C. Ferrero" in his hometown of Villena, Alicante, to promote future tennis talents between ages 14 and 21.
He is a friend of countryman and pro golfer Sergio Garcia.
His career-record on clay is 119-72 and his record at Roland-Garros is 21-3.

His Best Quotes This Tournament…

"Yeah. You know, when I sit in the chair and I see the score, two sets up, you know, I think a little bit."
- on whether he was concerned that Albert Costa may stage yet another comeback on Friday.

"I'm not really obsessed by this. This is one more match. I have to be strong in order to try to win. If I don't, well, bad luck. What can I do about it? If I don't win, well, I just don't win."
- on his third appearance in the Roland-Garros final, after losing the first two.

"I was here when I was 12 years old. I've always wanted to win here. It's one of my dreams, my ambitions. It's not an obsession as such, but it is one of my goals and one of my aspirations."
- on whether Roland-Garros is his greatest ambition.

"Yes, it is, but I have to be able to win over a giant and a very good player in order to do it."
- on whether he can win the tournament.

"And also, I wanted to win because today was -- is the happy birthday of my sister, and I want to win. So all these things are give me a lot of emotions, you know."
- after his emotional five set victory over Fernando Gonzalez.

"Well, he said he was hoping I would actually win the tournament because I was a good player and a nice person. I thanked him very much for those kind words, particularly coming from him."
- what Gonzalez said to him after their match.

"I placed myself on the baseline. I stayed there until the end."
- his tactic against Felix Mantilla.

"I'm very fit physically and mentally. I think that's the main advantage."
- the difference between the 2002 and 2003 Juan Carlos.

"You know, I feel frustrated because I lost the set against grass court specialist. No, I'm kidding (smiling)."
- how he felt after losing the first set to Tim Henman.

"No. I'm going to prepare just as I've done before. The fact is that I feel good, I'm doing all right. But I was placed on Court 2, which doesn't really mean that I'm looked at as if I were the favorite."
- on whether he enjoys the fact that the press think he's the favorite this year.

"Don't make me feel badly (smiling). I don't really know. I expected to win more and to suffer a bit more in order to win it."
- on whether he has a bad conscience about winning so much money in just three quarters of an hour (opponent Nicolas Massu retired).

"Well, I saw one of those people who foretell the future, and he said this time around it will be my turn (smiling). I hope this will be the case."
- on whether he expected to be in the finals this year.

Posted by nana at 2:34 AM

from ATP Insider

->> - OFF TO THE RACES…JUAN CARLOS FERRERO took some time off prior to the start of his Roland Garros campaign to visit close friend Sete Gibernau at the Le Mans race track near Paris. Gibernau won an impressive race and Ferrero saw all of it from the Telefonica Movistar box as a guest of Gibernau and Dorna. "This is as exciting as a five-set match," said Ferrero, who takes on Albert Costa in the semifinals Friday. "Every time I came to see Sete he ended up not finishing the race. Now he not only finished but also won it. It is unbelievable."

Posted by nana at 6:41 AM

pic: JC vs. Costa
pic: Lunge
pic: Stretch
pic: Backhand
pic: Backhand #2
pic: Forehand
pic: Slide
pic: Serve
pic: Too cute =)
pic: #1
pic: Shooting down a tennis ball =)
pic: Shooting again
pic: Celebrating
pic: Celebrating #2
pic: Fist pump
pic: On the run
pic: Return
pic: Talking to Costa
pic: with Costa
pic: Hug

Posted by nana at 5:26 AM

Post Match Interview
JC def. A. Costa 6-3, 7-6, 6-4

Q. Juan Carlos, are you sufficiently familiar with Martin Verkerk, or did you have somebody watch his match today, just to do some scouting?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah.

Q. Do you feel like you know him well enough?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I watched a little bit the match. But the thing is, last year in Kitzbuhel, I played against him one match and I won in two sets.

Q. He's a little different player.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know, I know, I know. He's with a lot of confidence right now because he won very great tennis players here and, you know, I think the clay court is not his surface. He's a little bit surprise, but he's playing unbelievable.

Q. What's your key to...
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Return, return. I don't know. I will see when I will go to the court how I will have to return his serve.
Sometimes maybe I will go back, you know. Sometimes I will go in front of the line. So maybe, I don't know.

Q. Where was it you played?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Kitzbuhel last year.

Q. Are you more happy than last year?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: For the moment I am same happy as the last year, because I am in the final again, you know. I defend all the point, you know. I have the chance to win again, so I am really happy again.

Q. You had an arm problem in Rome.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah.

Q. You rested and everything's fine?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, everything is fine right now. My arm right now it's 100 percent. I can serve really good, really strong, so everything is all right.

Q. Were you concerned that when you had a two-set lead, this is where Albert gets going?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah. You know, when I sit in the chair and I see the score, two sets up, you know, I think a little bit.
But just kidding with me, you know, and I try to keep going all the time and try to be hard, you know, as the last set, so...
That's it.

Q. I don't want to minimize your victory, so compliments and congratulations. I had a strong feeling, I'm interested whether you share opinion, that it was not the real Costa? He spend more than 20 hours on the court. It was not real re-make of last year's final. In other words, even in last couple of games, looked almost as extremely tired man. He couldn't barely even stand on the court. What do you think about that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, every matches are different. Last year, in the final, was not me, because physically I was very bad. So maybe he's a little bit the same as today. I don't know if he feels so tired, or he feels no also good, but I think I play great tennis and I win and that's it.

Q. Did you have a personal feeling that he couldn't move?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He couldn't move?

Q. Yeah.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think he goes for the ball and he try to play his tennis. That's it. I didn't feel this.

Q. Realistic explanation, your personal, for this amazing success of Verkerk, even in the history of the game, it didn't happen very often, almost never, that qualifiers reach the final.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I think he -- he's not a qualifier, first. I think in the second round, he went 5-1 down and love-30, three matchpoints for Horna. He saved the match and he's playing good, you know.
Like maybe Kuerten, when he won the tournament, and he came from the quallies.
So, you know, this tournament, it's give to all the players a lot of motivation, and you can start to play great tennis like he's doing. He's doing well.

Q. Four semifinals here now and two finals. If you're not successful Sunday, do you expect that people will begin to look at you in a slightly different way, as a very good player but not a great player, whereas if you win the title you will be a great player?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know. But, you know, one victory, it's make a lot of difference, you think?
I don't know. I think I am in the final. I have the chance to win. But if I win, the people, you think that is gonna think that I am better player than if I lose the final?
I don't know. Maybe yes, maybe not. But I hope not.

Q. Is there any special feeling to beat today the guy who beat you last year in the final?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no, not really.

Q. Was it something particular?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not really. I know he's a good friend of me and was one more match, one more semifinals, and I have to -- you know, when I went to the court, I was thinking that I have to try to give my best as the last year. Last year I couldn't move so well. But this year physically, I was 100 percent.
So I try to make all of my game and I did it very well.

Q. About the physical thing, in which way do you feel stronger than last year?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Experience, you know? I have a lot of matches inside of me. I think this is very important, the experience, to play. I played one final here and I gonna play again. I think is very important.

Q. Congratulations. You didn't want any surprises today. You had two sets under your belt and you said, "Now or never"?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I tried to stick to it. The second set was very difficult. But I think that from the point of view of my mental attitude, I may have been nervous at one point, but I tried to keep calm. Even when things were not going for me, I won the second set. I think this was difficult for him.
Playing a match to five sets would have been very difficult for him, and I suppose he might have been very tired because we were out there for two and a half hours. And I tried very hard during the third set to be able to wrap up the match - to keep it the same rhythm and not to let him win one set and gain confidence again.

Q. Last year you were injured and you were not able to play as well as you could. What do you feel this time around? Are you going after the title?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I feel very well. When you're physically fit, you also feel well from the point of view of the type of tennis you can play.
Of course, Verkerk plays very well. It's difficult to return his serve, but he plays from the back of the court.
First, I've played -- I have the experience needed to win this title. I've played in one of the finals. I've played with people who have strong serves.
Coria could have won today. He could have broken him. But it didn't happen. I hope to be able to handle him and to take advantage of whatever opportunity he provides to me.

Q. You've played here three times in the finals.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm not really obsessed by this. This is one more match. I have to be strong in order to try to win. If I don't, well, bad luck. What can I do about it? If I don't win, well, I just don't win.

Q. It's been well-deserved, but do you think that Albert has been at his best level?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't really know. They've asked me several times this. He can say this rather than I. I'm running after the ball, I'm trying to retrieve every single ball, and I think he's doing the same.
I think I played well and perhaps he didn't play at 100 percent of his form, but he did make it difficult for me. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been a tiebreak or there wouldn't have been a 6-4 or 6-3. It would have been easier all around.
So Albert can tell you better than I can about that.

Q. In the second set he was close to winning, two points away from winning. Was he discouraged by this?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Physically, he may have been tired, but he tried throughout. On many occasions, he was close to winning the point. He's been close in other matches, and he was able to come back and win one set after another.
So we don't really know what would have happened if he had been able to get a set.

Q. All the important points you got. Were you better off mentally compared to him?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know that I played better from a mental standpoint than I did the last time. This may have helped.

Q. How do you see the final match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I have to try to return his serve. If he serves very strongly, it will be difficult.
But I'm also serving well. Otherwise, I'll try to take advantage of the opportunities he gives you with his serve.
I played him in Kitzbuhel.

Q. What did you think of him there?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I had never played against him when I played him there. I was very much surprised by the fact that he had such good ground strokes.

Q. Was this your greatest ambition when you were young?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I was here when I was 12 years old. I've always wanted to win here. It's one of my dreams, my ambitions. It's not an obsession as such, but it is one of my goals and one of my aspirations.

Q. Do you think it comes at the best possible time for you, from a physical point of view, and, also, from the point of view of your mental strength?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. I've been playing well during the last month. I was slightly injured, but I am physically fit, so I think my tennis is fine.

Q. Today is a great moment. During the breakpoint, did you think about sending that stroke outside the court? You should have sent it out. Did it go through your head?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, I don't think what may happen. I wouldn't really do this as a joke, I wouldn't send the ball flying out of the court as a joke.

Q. From a physical point of view, this is the time you come in your best form, in the final? In a tennis point of view, do you think you're reaching the finals in the best possible condition?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I can't really compare this.

Q. Do you feel this is your best point from a tennis point of view?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. In Monte-Carlo I played a final in the best possible conditions. I hope that the day after tomorrow I'll be very fit.

Q. You have to win this, don't you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, of course.

Q. Do you think this is a real possibility?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, it is, but I have to be able to win over a giant and a very good player in order to do it.

Posted by nana at 4:39 AM

Ferrero farewells AlbertBy Matthew Cronin

Juan Carlos Ferrero earned a measure of revenge for his loss to defending champion Albert Costa in last year's final by outslugging his countryman 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4 in the Roland-Garros semi finals on Friday.

"I have a lot more experience now," said Ferrero, who will play the Netherlands' Martin Verkerk in the final. "I have a lot of matches inside me. That's very important. I feel great. When you're physically fit, you also feel well from the point of view of your tennis."

In his fourth straight appearance in the semifinals, Ferrero was the more aggressive and creative player on the day, controlling the court with his much improved serves, smacking winners off both wings and pouncing on Costa's second serves.

The 23-year-old Ferrero nailed seven aces in the match, whacked 17 winners from the baseline and won 19 of his 17 net approaches.

The courageous Costa had come back from two sets down three times in the tournament, but against Ferrero, was never able to establish his deep, pounding game.

Costa had a chance to serve out the second set at 5-3, but couldn't keep the cat-quick Ferrero off his back. In the tiebreak, Costa jumped out to a 4-2 lead with a nifty drop shot winner, but Ferrero battled back, winning the set with two gorgeous forehand winners.

In the third set, marathon man Costa finally wore down and when facing a break point at 3-3, his legs gave out and he fell backwards on the clay after hitting a fairly standard forehand. Ferrero - who has won his last 12 matches against fellow Spaniards - coolly served out the match, nailing an ace, snapping in a wicked serve that he followed up with a forehand putaway; nailing a service winner; and winning the match with an inside out forehand.

"It's the end of a marathon apart from the fact that I wanted to win here again," Costa said. "Sometimes you have to be realistic. Juan Carlos played a fabulous match. I fought to the end. I was convinced that if he gave me the slightest opportunity I would have taken it. But he didn't."

Ferrero first came to Roland Garros as a 12-year-old fan and since then, has been determined to win the title. Last year, he played poorly on a sore ankle against Costa and was nervous for the first two sets. This year, he feels he's a more mature person.

"I've always wanted to win here," Ferrero said. "It's one of my dreams, ambitions. It's not an obsession but one of my goals."

Posted by nana at 3:23 AM

Schedule of Play Day 12: Friday, 6 June

CHATRIER 1:00 PM Start
1. Men's Singles - Semis Martin Verkerk (NED) vs. Guillermo Coria (ARG)[7]
followed by:
2. Men's Singles - Semis Albert Costa (ESP)[9] vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3]

Posted by nana at 8:05 AM

Ferrero seeks sweet revenge By Guillaume Baraise

Revenge is a dish best served cold. One long year after tasting bitter defeat at the hands of Albert Costa in the 2002 Roland-Garros Final, third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero now has a chance to take cool, calculating vengeance on the man who stole his French Open dream. The man from Valencia is being tipped to beat the man from nearby Barcelona, but that favorite status didn't help Ferrero much last year and is unlikely to have any bearing against a man who has held onto his title with unbelievable tenacity so far.

CURRENT FORM
Juan Carlos Ferrero readily admitted he was given the fright of his life by Fernando Gonzalez in their gruelling five-set quarter final. The bookies' favourite struggled to banish the demon of self-doubt in a match he should have won more comfortably. That fragile confidence is virtually the only chink in the armour of a player who is otherwise ideally kitted out for clay court success. Prior to the Gonzalez hiccup, the Spaniard had only lost one set all tournament long; that was the first in his match against Tim Henman, and he punished the Englishman for his impudence thereafter. His clay court record this season is unblemished. He retained his Monte-Carlo title before returning home for the Valencia tournament where he won again. A muscle tear forced him to retire against Roger Federer in the semi finals in Rome, but the enforced period of rest that ensued can only have done him good. He looked tired in last year's final remember, so a pre-Grand Slam break was probably just what the doctor ordered.

Tired? Did I hear tired? Albert Costa does not know the meaning of the word. Only the fourth man in history to win four five-set matches in a Grand Slam, the reigning champion has hung onto his title with a stubborn determination that has sometimes bordered on obsession. Two sets to love, 4-1 and break point down in the third set of his first round match against qualifier Sergio Roitman, the Catalan should have been watching the rest of the tournament from the comfort of his armchair. That would have made him the only holder ever to lose his opening match though, and Costa is one proud man. The Spaniard rallied, staging the comeback of his life to make the second round. Unable to get his game going, he was forced to five sets by Radek Stepanek before prevailing. Another marathon match against Nicolas Lapentti and another fightback from two sets down saw him through the third round. At last, in his fourth round match with Arnaud Clément, everything clicked and he won in straight sets. Then, against Tommy Robredo in the quarter finals, he had to dig deeper than anyone has ever done at Roland-Garros and win for the fourth time in five sets. The never-say-die champ must feel he is invincible and has the psychological advantage over Ferrero having beaten him in last year's final.

STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES
Juan Carlos Ferrero was born to win Roland-Garros. After all, he has the perfect game to win here: power, stamina, tactical know-how, technique. His wickedly bouncing forehand usually gives him an edge, and his backhand down-the-line is one of the best game. As soon as an opponent is pushed back far enough he picks them off with a deft drop shot. His first serve has come on a lot, and his second virtually impossible to attack. Lightning fast, he is an accomplished clay court slider. Virtually unbeatable when he plays at his best, his form can dip alarmingly when he loses confidence as demonstrated against Gonzalez and Costa last year. Panic spells failure against a player of Costa's class, so he must keep his nerve if he is to take his revenge.

It hardly needs saying after his performances so far, but Albert Costa is one heck of an athlete. His staying power in the four five-setters has been quite breathtaking. While his adversaries have wilted in the heat, the Catalan has found the resources to battle on. The man from Barcelona has mastered the art of the clay court slide to perfection and gets around the court faster than most. He is a little slow to get going sometimes, as witnessed in his matches here, but when his back is against the wall there is no-one better. His backhand is a peach of a shot and his lifted forehand hard to control. A drop-shot specialist, he is superior to Ferrero at the net but a less effective server.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
They have met five times before, Costa winning three of them, but obviously the match that has most import here is last year's Roland-Garros final. Ferrero missed the boat then, only getting his game together in the third set, by which time it was too late.

1999 - Kitzbuhel - clay - Quarter final - Albert COSTA - 3-6 6-2 6-3
2001 - Barcelone - clay - 2R - Juan Carlos FERRERO - 6-4 3-6 6-3
2001 - Hambourg - clay - Semi final - Juan Carlos FERRERO - 6-1 6-2
2002 - Hambourg - clay - 1R - Albert COSTA - 2-6 6-3 6-4
2002 - Roland-Garros clay - Final - Albert COSTA - 6-1 6-0 4-6 6-3

Posted by nana at 8:00 AM