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
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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.
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.
