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)
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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.
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.
