pic: yay
pic: chasing down the ball
pic: serve
pic: pumped
pic: return
----------------------------------------

Ferrero Wears Down Chela in Battle of Clay Courters

Juan Carlos Ferrero and Juan Ignacio Chela, two Spanish speakers with three names apiece and a shared predilection for red-dirt tennis, faced each other in a match that looked an awful lot like a clay-court contest. Ferrero won in straight sets after a long rain delay turned their day match into a night encounter on Armstrong Stadium, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1.

The two players moved each other around the court with similar heavy, topspin groundstrokes off both wings and occasional feathery drop shots. Unlike his compatriots, Ferrero, the No. 3 seed and current French Open champion from Spain, grew up playing on asphalt, and ultimately his shots had more weight behind them.

In the first set, Ferrero broke the Argentine's serve with a classic clay-court play, moving Chela side-to-side by running around his backhand and hitting huge topspin forehands; he finished the point off by angling a sweet little drop shot to go up 4-3. Ferrero served for the set at 5-4, but he was broken on a sneaky Chela topspin lob that grazed the baseline. But the Spaniard broke right back and then held serve at love.

In the second set, Ferrero went up two breaks but surrendered them both, allowing Chela to equal the score at 5-5 and then broke again and finished the set 7-5. More typical of a clay court match, where the serve plays less of a role, the second set featured nine service breaks.

Chela ran out of gas in the third, and Ferrero smoked him, 6-1, but not before getting onto the highlight reel with a spectacular circus shot, a between-the-legs passing shot after running down a lob.

Ferrero, who hits a more muscular ball than his nickname "Mosquito" would indicate, is one of the few clay-court specialists with a real opportunity to go deep in the draw. He will meet the veteran American Todd Martin in the 4th Round.

Posted by nana at 1:48 PM

Schedule of Play
Armstrong - 11:00 AM Start

1. Women's Singles - 3rd Rnd. Mary Pierce (FRA) vs. Shinobu Asagoe (JPN)
followed by:
2. Men's Singles - 3rd Rnd. Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[6]
3. Men's Singles - 3rd Rnd. Taylor Dent (USA) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)[15]
4. Men's Singles - 3rd Rnd. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3] vs. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)[33]

Posted by nana at 10:52 AM

There is a RealOne video for this interview as well. You can check it out here
-------------------------------------

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Juan Carlos.

Q. Can you just talk about being down the first set, second set goes to a tiebreak, then you just cruised from there.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, these matches are very long, and you have the chance, if you start not so good, like today, you have the chance to come back and play good tennis like today.

I think I start with a lot of mistakes all the time, and he was serving so good. He was putting his first serve all the time, doing a lot of aces. I couldn't read his serve in the whole first set.

You know, when he did the break in the second set, I leave that set, because it was very difficult to come up again.

You know, in the second set, was very close. I think I had a lot of breakpoints to break him, but I couldn't do it.

Finally in the tiebreak, I think I play very well. Since the tiebreak, I think I play a great tennis all the time.

Q. Did you know Melzer? What do you think about his game?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think he has a lot of power. You know, he has a good serve, very good forehand. He goes to the net a lot of times, you know. He can play I think very well. But maybe he has to improve a little bit his experience in a big point.

Q. Were you ever worried it was going to get away from you?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no. I try to give my best all the time, don't think about win or lose.

Q. Coming in as the third seed, what were your expectations coming into the tournament?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I'm thinking win the tournament, of course. Like three players, we have the opportunity to be No. 1, you know. I think each one want to be. So if you want to be, you have to try to give your hundred percent in tournament, try to win a lot of matches. So expecting to win the tournament, for sure.

Q. After a long match like today, how do you feel physically?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I feel all right. I feel all right because I have enough time to be good in the next match. I played also four set in the first round, and today I was perfect. So I think I'm going to be okay.

Q. How do you feel about your game on a hard court?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Everyone is talking about this. I practice all my life on hard courts. I feel very comfortable in hard courts. I did a lot of results - good results - in hard courts. I think nobody has to think that I'm not a good player in hard courts.

(This is a partial transcript)

Posted by nana at 8:44 AM

Ferrero Advances to Third Round
by Brad Falkner


French Open Champion Juan Carlos Ferrero (aka "The Mosquito") got off to a slow start, but regrouped to advance into the third round of the 2003 US Open with a 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

For the first two sets of the match, Melzer looked like a man capable of taking the sting out of "The Mosquito."

Melzer's crafty all-court acumen gave Ferrero fits in the first set, when he squashed the mosquito in 27 minutes. Ferrero struggled to find a rhythm on his serve, being broken in the second and sixth games of the set.

Ferrero fell behind early in the match, but took control the rest of the way with an array of blazing groundstrokes and an effective serves.

The second set was played without a service break. In the tiebreaker, Melzer fell prone to slew of unforced errors, generously handing the tiebreaker to Ferrero 7-3.

In the third set, it was Melzer's shots that lost their sting, allowing Ferrero ample time to rip winners off of both wings.

By the fourth set, Ferrero's serve had become such a lethal weapon that he surrendered a mere five points on his serve in the final set.

The No. 3 seed Ferrero meets 33rd seeded Juan Ignacio Chela in the third round. Ferrero's best US Open results came in 2000 when he advanced to the fourth round.

Posted by nana at 8:36 AM

JC had a slow start but eventually defeated Jurgen Melzer, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4. Next he will face Juan Ignacio Chela in the 3rd round.



pic: victory
pic: return
pic: serve
pic: serve (overhead view)
pic: forehand
pic: follow through
pic: thumbs up
from round 1 ---> pic: another forehand

Posted by nana at 6:06 AM

Grandstand - 11:00 AM Start

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Paradorn Srichaphan (THA)[11] vs. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)
followed by:

2. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)[3] vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT)

Posted by nana at 10:59 AM

Post Match Interview

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Juan Carlos.

Q. Is it sometimes good to have a scare when you're down a set, come back, and be able to rally?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I think sometimes it's good to take a rhythm.

Q. Special day, the first day of the US Open. Tonight we have Pete Sampras retiring. Your thoughts on Pete calling it a day here, his retirement?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I think is a time to retire to Pete. I think he won the last tournament here. He played the last match in center court. You know, I think if he think is the time to retire, he has to do it. I think he won enough tournament. You know, he was one of the great player, you know, winning a lot of Grand Slams. He did a good job, so I think is enough.

Q. The atmosphere here, the way you're playing, the surface, are you confident?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I think everything is okay. I think I'm playing a good tennis. You know, I'm in a great form. You know, the atmosphere here, it's very nice. You know, I have my family, girlfriend, friends. I think I have everything to try to play good tennis.

Q. On the ranking system, do you think it's a good system if somebody can be No. 1 without winning a Grand Slam, or do you think you should win a Grand Slam to make up part of being the No. 1?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I think is the same. You know, to be a No. 1, you have to get very good results in Grand Slams. Maybe not to win, but you can play very good in Masters Series. It's also very difficult to win a Masters Series, as a Grand Slam.

But I think will be better to win a Grand Slam to be a No. 1. So maybe the ranking system, it's a little bit of a mistake.

Q. What do you think about Andy Roddick's jumping out of airplanes?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Airplanes?

Q. He parachutes. What do you think about that? Is that something you would ever do?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I did in Spain two years ago. It's nice. I think if he likes, why not?

Q. You and Roger and Andy have a good chance to be No. 1 after this tournament. Do you think anybody has a better chance than another?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No.

Q. You're all about the same?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think we have a tough draw, you know, each one. We have to win a lot of matches to be a No. 1. Somebody has to lose first, and then you have to take the chance to be the No. 1. We have to try to be very concentrates, all three.

(This is a partial transcript.)

Posted by nana at 6:48 AM

Pix from JC's first round match. He won 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Next he will face Jurgen Melzer (AUT). Best of luck to him!!



pic: white top and black shorts!?
pic: backhand against Vancek
pic: serving
pic: forehand
pic:
pic: return
pic: another forehand
pic: lunging
pic: thanking the crowd
pic: signing autographs

-----------------------------
Match Facts

- Ferrero's best US Open showing was in 1999 when eventual champ Marat Savin beat him in the round of 16.

- Ferrero has won three tournaments this year - all on clay.

- Ferrero has posted career best results in the first three 2003 majors. He needs to gain the quarterfinals to do the same in the US Open.

Posted by nana at 6:28 AM

No. 3 Ferrero Ousts Qualifier Vacek
by Joe Checkler
Monday, August 25, 2003

Despite his own inconsistency and a valiant match from his qualifier opponent, No. 3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero overcame Jan Vacek in four sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the second round of the 2003 US Open.

A three-quarters-filled Louis Armstrong Stadium saw a surprisingly entertaining duel between Ferrero and Vacek, complete with improbable winners, and even some humor. After regaining control of the match midway through the third set, Ferrero eyed a Vacek lob, faked a smash, and tried to loft a drop shot. Instead he barely hit the net, sending the crowd into a laughing frenzy that ended with the Spaniard half-bowing to his opponent and the stadium.

The first set was all Ferrero, as he broke Vacek twice, including the set-clinching game, without losing his own serve. The still-arriving crowd was most impressed with a development during the set's sixth game, when the umpire's microphone finally turned on - getting more applause than anything else in the first set.

Vacek turned a possible laugher into a match by breaking to go up 2-1 in the second set. He received his break point opportunity when a possible Ferrero winner on 30-30 hit the tape and bounced high, setting up an easy forehand winner. At 30-40, Vacek closed out to earn the break.

Although Ferrero broke Vacek back to get to 3-3 in the second, Vacek broke to get to 5-4, thanks to several Ferrero errors. He closed out the set by winning the match's most contested game, one which saw Ferrero fight off two set points before eventually succumbing to the 27-year-old Czech Republic native.

The third set saw Ferrero break to go up 3-1, and he never allowed Vacek to come close to breaking his serve. The fourth set, the shortest set of the match at 25 minutes, was more of the same as Ferrero used deep forehands and backhands to gain control of and eventually win points.

Next for Ferrero will be the winner of the Jurgen Melzer vs. Brian Baker matchup
---> news taken fron USOPEN official site

Posted by Unknown at 5:39 AM

SCHEDULE OF PLAY

Wow Jc will be playing today or tomorrow, 25/08/2003, depends when you see this =) He will be playing against Jan Vacek on Armstrong stadium which will start at 11 Am. That's New York time of course!!! So see ya on the tag board =) and Vamos JC!!!!!!
Btw to see the full schedule please click here.

Posted by Unknown at 6:01 AM

US OPEN DRAW UPDATE

JC will face lucky loser, Jan Vacek (CZE) in the first round or the US OPEN. Good luck JC.!!!!

Posted by Unknown at 9:16 AM

US OPEN UPDATE

Safin, Canas Withdraw From U.S. Open

NEW YORK - Marat Safin, the 2000 champion, pulled out of the U.S. Open on Thursday with a wrist injury.

Safin also withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon this year. He's played just one match since April — and he didn't finish it, quitting during the first set at Los Angeles last month.

The Russian was seeded 26th for the U.S. Open.

Guillermo Canas also pulled out of the Open which starts Monday, saying he hasn't fully recovered from wrist surgery.

Safin and Canas will be replaced in the field by "lucky losers" — the highest-ranked players to lose in the final round of qualifying.

Both of the injured players originally were put in French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero's quarter of the draw, with Canas his original first-round opponent.

Juan Ignacio Chela now will be seeded 33rd and move into Safin's spot in the draw.

If another seeded player withdraws, Tim Henman would be seeded 34th and be moved out of a first-round match against No. 4 Andy Roddick.
--> news taken from AP
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAVIS CUP NEWS

Argentina's Coria to Make Davis Cup Debut Against Spain

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - In-form Argentine Guillermo Coria will make his Davis Cup debut in the semifinal against Spain in Malaga next month after being named in the team on Thursday.

Coria, seeded fifth for next week's U.S. Open, has been in brilliant form this season, winning four titles -- the Hamburg Masters Series, Stuttgart, Kitzbuehel and Sopot -- and reaching the French Open semi-finals.

He will join Gaston Gaudio, David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri in captain Gustavo Luza's team, an Argentine Tennis Association (AAT) spokesman told Reuters.

Argentina meet 2000 winners Spain in Malaga from September 19 to 21 with Coria and Gaudio the likely singles players and Nalbandian and Calleri the doubles pairing.

Coria and Calleri, last picked more than two years ago, are in for Mariano Zabaleta and Lucas Arnold, who helped the team reach their second consecutive semi-final with a 5-0 win over holders Russia in their quarter-final in Buenos Aires in April.

Spain have named Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya as their singles players and Albert Costa and Alex Corretja for the doubles.

Australia host Switzerland in the other semifinal
--->News from REUTERS

Posted by Unknown at 9:12 AM

USOPEN DRAW

The draw for Us open is out. Jc, seeded third, will face Guilermo Canas from Argentina for his first round match. To see the full draw click here.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agassi Draws Corretja, Roddick Draws Henman at Open

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Top seed Andre Agassi should face little trouble as he opens his U.S. Open campaign next week after he was drawn against new father Alex Corretja in the first round on Wednesday.


Spaniard Corretja has been ranked as high as number two in the world but he has looked as though his mind is on other things since the birth of his first child, a daughter, in June.

He withdrew from Wimbledon and has won just two matches in four tournaments since then.

Second seed and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer faces another claycourter, Argentine Jose Acasuso, in what should also be a relatively straightforward opening against a baseliner.

However, fourth seed Andy Roddick faces a tough task at his home grand slam.

The American has been drawn against Britain's Tim Henman in the first round -- a player most seeds had been hoping to avoid.

A period of injury has seen Henman's ranking slide to the mid-30s leaving him without a seeded spot in the draw but just last month he showed his mettle by storming to the title in Washington, defeating Roddick in the semi-finals.

However, the ATP said on Wednesday that if two seeded players dropped out of the main draw before Monday's first round then Henman would be handed a seeded spot and would avoid the Roddick match-up.

In the women's singles, top-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters opens with a match against American wildcard Amber Liu while compatriot, and second seed, Justine Henin-Hardenne, must wait for her opponent after drawing a qualifier.

Third seed Lindsay Davenport meets yet another Belgian, the unheralded Els Callens while fourth seed and twice champion Venus Williams drew a qualifier.

Clijsters' boyfriend and former men's champion Lleyton Hewitt is seeded sixth this year. The Australian will face Romania's Victor Hanescu.

Michael Chang, awarded a wildcard for what will be his final U.S. Open, drew 15th seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the first round.

Agassi's quarter contains Gonzalez as well as fifth-seeded Argentine Guillermo Coria and ninth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean. The 33-year-old should not be too bothered by those defensive baseliners on the swiftish New York hard courts, however a number of dangerous big servers including Britain's Greg Rusedski and American Taylor Dent lurk in his section.

Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero heads the second quarter and meets another claycourter Guillermo Canas in round one, while 2001 champion Hewitt and 2000 winner Marat Safin are also in the quarter.

The U.S. Open, the final grand slam of the tennis calendar, runs from August 25 to September 8.

Neither reigning champion is defending their title -- Pete Sampras has not played competitively since winning at Flushing Meadows last year and Serena Williams is sidelined through injury.
-->news from Reuters

Posted by Unknown at 8:19 AM

(from TD Waterhouse Cup official site)

Meanwhile, reigning French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero was forced to withdraw from the Long Island field due to an injury.

[...]

This might be for the better because then he can rest and get ready for the US Open.

Posted by nana at 10:43 AM

Even though he wore his lucky white outfit today JC was defeated by Gaudio 7-6, 6-7, 4-6. He also made 40 unforced errors and 10 double-faults



pic from round 2
new --> pic: chasing the ball
new --> pic: throw racquet

Posted by nana at 5:25 AM

--->Order of Play (round2)

Center Court starting at 11AM

GAUDIO (ARG) vs FERRERO (ESP)
------------------------------------------

pic: forehand

Posted by nana at 8:23 AM

Order of Play for Tuesday, August 12

Center Court start 11:00 AM

(Q)Scott Draper (AUS) vs. (3)Roger Federer (SUI)

not before 1:00 PM

Mark Philippoussis (AUS) vs. Mardy Fish (USA)
(5)Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Xavier Malisse (BEL)

Starting at 7:00 PM

(Q)Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. (7)Andy Roddick (USA)
Frantisek Cermak & Leos Friedl (CZE) vs. Joshua Eagle (AUS) & Jared Palmer (USA)

Grandstand start 11:00 AM

(8)Rainer Schuettler (GER) vs. (Q)Stefan Koubek (AUT)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. (9)Paradorn Srichaphan (THA)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. (2)Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
(10)Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) vs. (Q)Wesley Moodie (RSA)

not before 7:00 PM

Mariano Zabaleta (ARG) vs. (14)Gustavo Kuerten (BRA)

-------------------------
JC lost in the 1st round for doubles =(

Hewitt/Philippoussis d Ferrero/Zimonjic 6-3, 7-5

Posted by nana at 8:23 AM

Order of Play TMS Cincinnati
Monday, August 11 (Day 1)

Center Court – 11 A.M.

(4)C Moya (ESP) vs F Santoro (FRA)
W Ferreira (RSA) vs J Blake (USA)
(WC)M Chang (USA) vs (Q)H Arazi (MAR)

Not before 7 P.M.
(13)F Gonzalez (CHI) vs (WC)B Vahaly (USA)
R Stepanek (CZE) vs R Ginepri (USA)

Grandstand – 11 A.M.

(11)S Schalken (NED) vs HT Lee (KOR)
P-H Mathieu (FRA) vs T Robredo (ESP)
G Rusedski (GBR) vs (12)J Novak (CZE)
T Henman (GBR) vs (6)G Coria (ARG)
(WC)T Martin (USA) vs J Acasuso (ARG)

Court 3 – 11 A.M.

I Ljubicic (CRO) vs N Lapentti (ECU)
(17) F Mantilla (ESP) vs (WC)T Enqvist (SWE)
(16)M Verkerk (NED) vs N Okun (ISR)
Ferrero/Zimonjic vs Hewitt/Philippoussis
A Calleri (ARG) vs M. Youzhny (RUS)

Court 4 – 11 A.M.

K Kucera (SVK) vs JI Chela (ARG)
Nieminen/Srichaphan vs Corretja/Costa
G Gaudio (ARG) vs R Kendrick (USA)
Kafelnikov/Kuerten vs Cibulec/Vizner
Adams/Koenig vs Haggard/Johnson

Posted by nana at 7:17 AM

UPDATE ON CINCINNATI MASTERS

Jc will also played double with Nenad Zimonjic. They are drawed to face Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Phillipousis for their first round. To see the full draw click here.

Posted by Unknown at 12:25 AM

--->TMS Cincinnati Main Draw

JC Ferrero (ESP) vs. N Davydenko (RUS) (first round)

Posted by nana at 9:56 AM

Pix from JC's 3rd round match

pic: serving
pic: return
pic: backhand
pic: poor JC =(
pic: looking dejected (nice abs though ^^)

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

Even after many threats made by us on the tagboard, JC just couldn't turn the match around though there was a glimmer of hope at the beginning of the 2nd set. He was defeated by Kucera 6-3, 7-5. Also Federer has taken over the #1 position from JC in the Champions Race. =(

Posted by nana at 11:34 AM

2003 MATCH WINS LEADERS

Player W-L

1. Roger Federer 55-10
2. Juan Carlos Ferrero 49-10
3. Guillermo Coria 47-12
4T. Carlos Moya 45-14
4T. Andy Roddick 45-13
6. Rainer Schuettler 40-20
7. Andre Agassi 38-6
8. Gaston Gaudio 35-19
9T. Jarkko Nieminen 33-20
9T.Tommy Robredo 32-17

Posted by nana at 6:34 AM

MATCH: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO vs. YOUNES EL AYNAOUI
SCORE : 6-3, 6-4

MONDAY 4 AUGUST 2003
INTERVIEW WITH

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO

Tour Official: Please go ahead for Juan Carlos.

Reporter: You've lost to him all six times you played before. Today you beat him. How does it feel and what did you do differently today?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: I think there is a first time for everything. Finally I could play very good. And also, I think the key was I was serving very good all the time. A lot of first serve points. I think I did a very good match today.

Reporter: It seemed today that you were very much in control of this match.

Juan Carlos Ferrero: Yeah, I did. I think, you know, I didn't do mistakes in the whole match. And I played very intelligent all the time, over his backhand, you know and doing, you know, exactly what I want in every moment. So I think I did a very good match.

Reporter: What do you think of the possibility that you might face Verkerk in the next round, it's possible?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: You know, it's one more guy. I know we played the final in the French. Right now we're in Montreal and we have to play in different conditions, so we'll see.

Reporter: You're not unhappy to be playing on hard court, are you?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: No, of course not, I like it.

Reporter: The last couple of weeks on clay you were so so.

Juan Carlos Ferrero: I know, but I think I like to play on hard court. It doesn't matter if I come from playing on clay courts. I think I need only two or three days practice on hard court to be adapted on hard court.

Reporter: Sometimes as players get older they like hard courts more because they get more intelligent, maybe they hit a little bit harder as they get stronger. And it's almost better for players as they are older, stronger and more mature, than the clay courts, when you're young you have long, long rallies, but when you're older, you maybe finish the points faster and you're better on hard courts, no?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: No, maybe yes. Maybe for the older guys it's better. Also, guys like Younes, he has a very good serve on forehand, you know, and he plays very fast and, of course, the hard courts are better for them.

Tour Official: No further questions? Thanks ladies and gents

Posted by Unknown at 10:26 PM

A First for Ferrero

On Court 1, the No. 1 player in the ATP Champions Race and No. 2 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was able to overcome the El Aynaoui jinx beating the Morrocan for the first time in six meetings in a surprising quick victory of 6-3, 6-4.

"There is a first time for everything," said Ferrero. "I think the key was serving well and making very few errors," added the Spaniard who fired 12 aces compared to nine for Al Aynaoui. "I played an intelligent match, executing the right shots at the right time."

Ferrero now moves into the third round where he will meet Karol Kucera of Slovakia. Kucera needed two tie-breaks to oust French Open finalist Martin Verkerk.
--> news from official master Canada.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ferrero Advances in Montreal, Larose Surprises Again

By Charles Grandmont
MONTREAL (Reuters) - Second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero strolled into the third round of the Montreal Masters with a swift 6-3 6-4 win over Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui Wednesday.

[...]

Ferrero had lost his six previous encounters against world number 22 El Aynaoui but the Spaniard was in full control on this occasion.

"There is a first time for everything," said the 23 year-old Roland Garros winner.

"I didn't do mistakes in the whole match and I played very intelligent all the time."

Ferrero, a clay specialist, said he needed only a couple of days of practice to get used to Montreal's hard court.

His last tournament on the surface dates back to the Miami Masters in March.
[...]

-->news from reuters

Posted by Unknown at 6:55 PM

Order of Play for Thursday (round 3)

Court 1 - starting at 11AM

Karol BECK (SVK) vs Feliciano LOPEZ (ESP)

followed by
Jiri NOVAK (CZE) vs Rainer SCHUETTLER (GER)

Tommy ROBREDO (ESP) vs Greg RUSEDSKI (GBR) or Roger FEDERER (SUI)

Not Before 7:30PM

Karol KUCERA (SVK) vs Juan Carlos FERRERO (ESP)

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

pic: fist pump
pic: backhand
pic: return
pic: laughing and shaking hands with El Aynaoui

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

Ferrero progresses with maiden win over El Aynaoui

Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero stayed atop the season points race, earning his first career victory over Younes El Aynaoui 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Montreal Masters on Wednesday.

With Wimbledon winner Roger Federer nipping at his heels, the Spanish number one needs every win he can earn in the run-up to the US Open, which starts in less than three weeks.

Ferrero broke through a personal barrier with his victory in 75 minutes over the Moroccan, a heavy hitter with dangerous groundstrokes and refined touch.

The 23-year-old buzzed over the obstacles, breaking once per set in a contest which was interrupted for less than an hour by rain showers as the weather intervened.

Ferrero out-served El Aynaoui 12 aces to nine and never faced a break point.

His next match could be a re-run of the Paris final, if Dutchman Martin Verkerk can win his second match since losing to Ferrero two months ago.

The 15th seed was playing for the third round against Karol Kucera.

"There's a first time for everything," Ferrero said of his long-sought win over the Moroccan.

"Finally, I played well. The key was serving well all times.
"I played a good match today."

Ferrero was one of a handful of lucky players, whose matches finished before the second afternoon rain interruption struck.

The Paris Grand Slam champion is struggling this week to hang onto his five-point lead in the season Champions points race over Federer, playing the night match against Montreal-born Greg Rusedski.

Federer can overtake Ferrero this week if he wins one more round than the Spaniard at this sixth Masters of the season.

Posted by nana at 7:43 AM

Post Match Interview

Round 1: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO vs. CYRIL SAULNIER
6-4, 6-4

Tour Official: For those that are ready, please go ahead for Juan Carlos, if you like.

Reporter: Just your general comments on how the match went today? It looked like it was a good first match for you.

Juan Carlos Ferrero: To be a first match I think I was playing very good. Saulnier is a player like he plays very flat and here on these kind of courts it is not easy to play. So I think it was a great match for me. And also, I think I was serving so good all the time, this give me a lot of confidence to play better and better.

Reporter: How did you find the courts? They say that they slowed them down a little. Did you notice that they're any slower than in the past?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: You know, it's normal. It's not so slow. You know, I came from clay courts and for me it is a little bit fast. But, you know, I feel very good about the court and I try to give my best.

Reporter: Being such a good player on clay, what is your feeling about your chances at this tournament?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: You know, two years ago I did quarter finals when it was faster than it is. I hope to do a great tournament again and do more than the quarter finals.

Reporter: You have a very slim lead in the race, the points race this year over Federer and a few others. What is your feeling -- how much importance do you put on that?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: It is very important. It means that I'm playing very regular, the whole year, and doing very well in the whole tournament that I'm playing. You know, I try to be at the same level from now to the end of the year, to try to be number one at the end of the year that I think is the more important than to be number one right now.

Reporter: What is your feeling about the Moroccan player, Younes El Aynaoui?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: It is difficult, because I lose all the times that I play against him. And for sure it's going to be a difficult match, because here on hard court he has a very good serve and he is very tall and very strong. His forehand is very good and I'm going to try to play my best tennis. I know that it's going to be the second match on hard courts, but I think I'm feeling so well that I'm going to try to be at my best for that match.

Reporter: What is it that gives you trouble with him? Is it just his strength? How many times have you played him before?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: I don't know, three or four times.

Reporter: And you never won?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: The last time was in Davis Cup, I lost in five sets, 6-3 in the fifth, so always difficult to beat him. But always, when I was playing with him, when I was two out of three sets I always lose in three sets and when its was best of five I always lose in five. So, you know, always tough. So I'm going to try and win this time.

Tour Official: Any further questions? Thank you everyone.

Posted by nana at 12:03 AM

Grand Slam winners Ferrero, Federer start strong in Montreal

MONTREAL, United States (AFP) - Reigning Grand Slam champions Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer stormed to success in season-opening hardcourt matches to reach the second round of the 2.45-million-dollar Montreal Masters.

Spain's second seed Ferrero, the French Open winner, made his summer debut on cement, dominating Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-4, 6-4 while Wimbledon champion Roger Federer followed suit as he returned to tennis after three weeks off.

[...]

The first-round victories on a muggy but dry day at the Jarry Park kept the heat on in the season Champions race, with Ferrero leading Federer by five points.

"It's important and shows that I'm playing well," said the Spaniard. "I'm maintaining my level for week after week. I want to keep doing that and try to remain number one at the end of the season."
[...]

Spain's Ferrero made up for a first-round loss in Toronto in 2002 as he rolled over Saulnier, a qualifier ranked 101. The Spanish seed has not lost in the first round of a tournament since 2002 Indian Wells.

"This was pretty good for a first match," said Ferrero. "I was playing well. It's not easy for me to play on these kind of courts. But I served well and that gave me confidence."

Clay-bred Ferrero is not afraid of tackling the cement and reached a Canadian quarter-final here in 2001.

[...]
--> news taken from AFP

Posted by Unknown at 4:37 PM

Order of Play

Court 1 Singles Round 2
starting at 11AM

JC Ferrero (ESP) vs Y. El Aynaoui (MAR)

Posted by nana at 10:26 AM

pic: wave
pic: waving again
pic: backhand
pic: stretch
pic: serve
pic: forehand

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Ferrero Wins Comfortably
By Tennis Canada

Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, the No. 2 seed, reached the second round of the Tennis Masters Canada after disposing of Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, 6-4, 6-4 in the first match of Day Two at the du Maurier Stadium.
Ferrero took advantage of a more powerful serve to run away with a decisive victory.

“I hope that I do as well, if not better, than two years ago,” said Ferrero, who reached the quarter-finals in Montreal in 2001. “I’m No.1 in the Champions Race and it’s very important to me. I want to stay at the same level of play.”

The Spaniard meets Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui in the second round. “It’s always tough to play against him. The last time we played, I lost in five sets at Davis Cup,” said Ferrero.

In the Saulnier match, Ferrero nailed 10 aces compared to two for his rival. Saulnier was only serving at 44%, a statistic that won’t lead to victory against the second seed.

Posted by nana at 2:44 AM

Order of Play

Court Central - 11:00 AM

(Q)C Saulnier (FRA) vs (2)JC Ferrero (ESP)

Not Before 12;30 PM

To resume - (WC)D Nestor (CAN) vs R Ginepri (USA) 36 63
G Gaudio (ARG) vs (3)R Federer (SUI)
(5)L Hewitt (AUS) vs (Q)B Bryan (USA)

Starting at 7:30 PM

(6)A Roddick (USA) vs X Malisse (BEL)
Niemeyer/Youzhny vs Moya/Zimonjic

Posted by nana at 11:23 AM

Here's the Order of Play for the first day of TMS Canada.
JC will play Tuesday against Q C Saulnier (FRA) =)

Order of Play - Monday, August 4, 2003

Court Central - 11:00 AM
A Martin (ESP) vs (11)P Srichaphan (THA)
Not Before 1:00 PM
(4)C Moya (ESP) vs A Clement (FRA)
N Lapentti (ECU) vs G Rusedski (GBR)
Starting at 6:30 PM
(1)A Agassi (USA) vs (WC)F Niemeyer (CAN)
(WC)S Larose (CAN) vs (13)G Kuerten (BRA)

Court 1 - 11:00 AM
M Youzhny (RUS) vs (8)R Schuettler (GER)
Not Before 12:30 PM
Y El Aynaoui (MAR) vs M Fish (USA)
R Stepanek (CZE) vs J Blake (USA)
(16)T Robredo (ESP) vs HT Lee (KOR)
Not Before 6:30 PM
J Nieminen (FIN) vs D Nalbandian (ARG)
(WC)D Nestor (CAN) vs R Ginepri (USA)

Court 2 - 11:00 AM
F Santoro (FRA) vs J Acasuso (ARG)
(Q)R Delgado (PAR) vs I Ljubicic (CRO)
PH Mathieu (FRA) vs (Q)S Draper (AUS)

Court 6 - 11:00 AM
A Calleri (ARG) vs JI Chela (ARG)
(Q)K Beck (SVK) vs (Q)M Llodra (FRA)

Posted by nana at 9:23 AM

A little disappointing to see JC lose and now people are saying that Coria is the #1 clay court player!!! Noooooo!!!! =(
But on a lighter note the draws for TMS Canada are out =D

TMS Canada Main Draw

JC is seeded No. 2 and will face a qualifier in the first round. Best of luck to him!!! VAmos!

Posted by nana at 8:02 AM

Horna Upsets Top Seed Ferrero

A potential showdown between the two hottest clay court players on the circuit this year, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Guillermo Coria, was denied by Luis Horna of Peru. Ferrero came into the match with a 32-3 record on clay, before Horna restored the Spaniard to a more human status with his 6-1, 7-6 (1) victory. The 22-year-old Peruvian No. 1 had just upset No. 7 seed Dominik Hrbaty to reach the quarterfinals. Horna also reached the semifinals in Amersfoort two weeks ago as well as the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires earlier this year.
[....]

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:

Ferrero: "I played a good player today. He won his first two matches easily. I could have done more in the first set and I had chances to break him in the second set. A lot of games went to 30-30. I should have won the tie-break and then I felt I would have won the match because I was playing better and better."

"I didn't give my best tennis in today's match. I had a bad day. I tried to give me best. Nothing specific was missing, but I couldn't show the best tennis that I am capable of. Horna just played better. He was taking risks. All players playing a Top 10 player try their best as I used to against Agassi and Sampras. He had so much incentive today."

"You can't play the same level at each tournament. You are human, that's life. It is hard to get to No.1 and it is difficult to stay there. You have to win a lot of matches and tournaments. Everyone is trying to beat you and try to take the No. 1 position."

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

Pic: forehand

Posted by nana at 6:47 AM

Order of Play

Starting at 7:00 PM

Juan Carlos FERRERO (ESP) vs Luis HORNA (PER)

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

Picture from todays match against Cermak

Pic: backhand

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

Ferrero Comes Back from the Brink
Top seed survives a second round scare against Frantisek Cermak, while Guillermo Coria continues his sensational form.

Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero came back from the brink of defeat and saved two match points before defeating Czech qualifier Frantisek Cermak to reach the quarterfinals of the Idea Prokom Open in Sopot.
Ferrero, the current ATP Champions Race 2003 leader, finally came through 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, saving the match points at 5-4 in the second set - the second with a drop shot.

The Spaniard will now meet Luis Horna of Peru for a place in the semifinals. Horna, who defeated Roger Federer in the first round at Roland Garros before losing to eventual finalist Martin Verkerk, recorded a 6-3, 6-1 victory over No. 7 seed Dominik Hrbaty. Horna also reached the semifinals in Amersfoort two weeks ago as well as the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires earlier this year.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Ferrero: "It was obviously a difficult match. His level of play in the first two sets took me by surprise. At the beginning, he was so solid. He wasn't making mistakes and was serving very well. It's not normal for someone of his ranking to play so consistently.

"These kind of players find it difficult to close the match out against a Top 10 player. It is normal for them to get nervous. I managed to raise the level of my game very well when I really needed to today.

"It is difficult to decide when to make a drop shot. I use that shot a lot as part of my game. Today, I missed many but on his second match point, it was the easiest shot to make. I was happy to see it glide over the net."

QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW
The quarterfinals of the Idea Prokom Open get underway on Friday with top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero and third seed Guillermo Coria still on course for a semifinal showdown.

Ferrero, who saved two match points in his second round victory over Frantisek Cermak on Thursday, faces Peru's Luis Horna for the first time in the quarterfinals. Ferrero, who needs to reach the semifinals in order to increase his five-point lead over Roger Federer at the top of the ATP Champions Race 2003 Leader Board, now has reached the quarterfinals or beyond in 10 of the 13 tournaments he has played in 2003.

The Spaniard, who has won three titles this year at Roland Garros, the Tennis Masters Monte-Carlo and Valencia, now has a 47-9 record. Horna, the 22-year-old from Lima, is 15-16 for the year. He reached the semifinals in Amersfoort, retiring against Massu in the second set after straining his right hamstring, and advanced to the quarterfinals in Buenos Aires, losing to Carlos Moya in three sets. His biggest win of the year came in the first round at Roland Garros, where he defeated Roger Federer in straight sets before losing to eventual finalist Martin Verkerk in five.

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

from ATP Insider

->> - IN SOPOT… Over 300 people attended an autograph session by top seed, JUAN CARLOS FERRERO at the tournament's official cafe in the center of Sopot on the Monte Cassino street. Two large screens are also placed in strategic positions around Sopot, featuring five hours of live matches, interviews and guests as part of the special tournament television program bringing tennis outside the gates of the tournament…

After defeating CARLOS MOYA in the first round, ALBERT PORTAS lacked the same touch when he attempted to handle the remote control car in the Mercedes-Benz road rally, unlike JUAN CARLOS FERRERO, who demonstrated his skills beyond tennis…

Posted by nana at 5:21 AM