EXCLUSIVE PROFILE Ferrero's Date With Destiny
Making his third appearance in the Tennis Masters Cup, Juan Carlos Ferrero is in prime position to win the year-end championships and become the first Spaniard to finish the year as the World No. 1.
Locked in battle with American Andy Roddick and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer for the prestigious honor, Ferrero reclaimed the ATP Champions Race lead from Roddick late in the season by winning Tennis Masters Madrid on home soil.
“It's the third year in a row that I am playing in the Tennis Masters Cup, it's fantastic,” said the 23-year-old Spaniard. “I've won a Grand Slam and have had good results this year. I've done well at the Masters Cup in Sydney and Shanghai, so I hope to continue that in Houston.”
Ferrero, who finished both 2001 and 2002 inside the Top 5, reached the semifinals on his Tennis Masters Cup debut in Sydney and went one better by advancing to the final in Shanghai 12 months later—losing to Lleyton Hewitt on both occasions in two closely fought encounters.
This time around, the Spaniard arrives in Houston having claimed the first of what many predict will be numerous Roland Garros championships as well as reaching the US Open final at Flushing Meadows. With impressive victories over Todd Martin, Hewitt and Andre Agassi along the way, only the powerful serving of Roddick eventually prevented him from joining Manuel Santana and Manuel Orantes as the only Spaniards to conquer New York.
Ferrero's victory over Agassi on Super Saturday at the US Open elevated him above the American into the No. 1 spot in the ATP Entry Rankings, a feat only previously achieved in Spain by Carlos Moya, who spent two weeks at the top of the men's game in March 1999.
This season Ferrero has won 30 matches or more on hard courts and clay for the first time in his career. He is the first player to accomplish the feat since 1980. “I know that when I am playing good, I can play the same level"
>> 2003 in Review: JC Ferrero
DOCUMENTARY ATP Commissions Masters Cup Documentary
The ATP and Tennis Masters Cup host Jim McIngvale commissioned the production of a documentary to follow the excitement of the year-end finale in Houston from November 8-16.
>> full article
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Hmmm... could be interesting! I'd go watch it ^^
Making his third appearance in the Tennis Masters Cup, Juan Carlos Ferrero is in prime position to win the year-end championships and become the first Spaniard to finish the year as the World No. 1.
Locked in battle with American Andy Roddick and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer for the prestigious honor, Ferrero reclaimed the ATP Champions Race lead from Roddick late in the season by winning Tennis Masters Madrid on home soil.
“It's the third year in a row that I am playing in the Tennis Masters Cup, it's fantastic,” said the 23-year-old Spaniard. “I've won a Grand Slam and have had good results this year. I've done well at the Masters Cup in Sydney and Shanghai, so I hope to continue that in Houston.”
Ferrero, who finished both 2001 and 2002 inside the Top 5, reached the semifinals on his Tennis Masters Cup debut in Sydney and went one better by advancing to the final in Shanghai 12 months later—losing to Lleyton Hewitt on both occasions in two closely fought encounters.
This time around, the Spaniard arrives in Houston having claimed the first of what many predict will be numerous Roland Garros championships as well as reaching the US Open final at Flushing Meadows. With impressive victories over Todd Martin, Hewitt and Andre Agassi along the way, only the powerful serving of Roddick eventually prevented him from joining Manuel Santana and Manuel Orantes as the only Spaniards to conquer New York.
Ferrero's victory over Agassi on Super Saturday at the US Open elevated him above the American into the No. 1 spot in the ATP Entry Rankings, a feat only previously achieved in Spain by Carlos Moya, who spent two weeks at the top of the men's game in March 1999.
This season Ferrero has won 30 matches or more on hard courts and clay for the first time in his career. He is the first player to accomplish the feat since 1980. “I know that when I am playing good, I can play the same level"
>> 2003 in Review: JC Ferrero
DOCUMENTARY ATP Commissions Masters Cup Documentary
The ATP and Tennis Masters Cup host Jim McIngvale commissioned the production of a documentary to follow the excitement of the year-end finale in Houston from November 8-16.
>> full article
----
Hmmm... could be interesting! I'd go watch it ^^
