ARTICLE
Moya, Ferrero assert clay court authority
The unseeded Ferrero, who lifted the prestige Catalan trophy four years ago, fought past a late-match injury treatment distraction to compatriot Alberto Montanes to reach the second round 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
A relieved Ferrero, semifinalist last weekend in Monte Carlo, stamped a blanket ban on any more discussions about his sad 2004 season.
"I want to forget everything about last year - don't ask me any more about it," said Ferrero, who once reigned as Spain's King of Clay.
Added the former world number one: "2004 is a bad memory that I don't need. I'm only concentrating on the future now. It's one match at a time and this is a start."
Ferrero, who suffered through a season of injury and illness including a case of chicken pox, overcame a potentially distracting moment late in the match as Montanes took treatment for thigh cramps at 30-all while serving for the match 5-4.
But after the 10-minute delay, Ferrero calmly held his nerve, breaking his countryman with a backhand drop shot on his way to victory two games later after two hours, 45 minutes
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Revived Ferrero confident he's back to winning form
BARCELONA, April 19 (Reuters) - Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero says he has finally put a wretched 2004 behind him and believes he is approaching the sort of form he enjoyed when he won the French Open two years ago.
"I think I'm really playing quite well," Ferrero said after his 6-3 3-6 7-5 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes in the first round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
"I want to forget last year. This is a new season and I don't think it is good to cast my mind back over what happened before. I'm feeling confident, happy with the way I'm playing and want to keep improving step by step."
Blighted by injury and illness, Ferrero had a miserable 2004, finishing outside the top 10 for the first time in four years and losing his place in Spain's victorious Davis Cup team.
After a subdued start to 2005, he returned to his favoured clay surface at his home tournament in Valencia earlier this month, only to be swept aside by the in-form Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-1.
But Ferrero did not let the heavy defeat upset him and reached his first ATP semi-final in a year at Monte Carlo last week, beating Marat Safin in the third round before succumbing to Argentine Gulliermo Coria.
He withstood some heavy pressure from Montanes in Tuesday's match, but never lost his concentration and pushed his fellow Spaniard to the limit in the decisive third set with his powerful rolling backhands and deft drop shots.
The 25-year-old believes that with a few more matches now under his belt he will be well on the way to recapturing his tournament-winning form of 2003.
"I played well at Monte Carlo and I played well today," he said. "Physically I feel 100 percent although my forehand does need a little work, and mentally I feel very strong.
"I wouldn't say that I am among the favourites here at Barcelona because there are so many good players here, but I am one of the players who are in with a chance."
With Roland Garros just round the corner, Ferrero's appetite has been whetted once more and he says that his sights are now set on winning a second grand slam tournament of his career.
"I'm concentrating on improving my performances over the whole year and I would rather win another grand slam than just move up the rankings. With the way I'm playing and the confidence I have I think that is now a realistic objective."
Moya, Ferrero assert clay court authority
The unseeded Ferrero, who lifted the prestige Catalan trophy four years ago, fought past a late-match injury treatment distraction to compatriot Alberto Montanes to reach the second round 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
A relieved Ferrero, semifinalist last weekend in Monte Carlo, stamped a blanket ban on any more discussions about his sad 2004 season.
"I want to forget everything about last year - don't ask me any more about it," said Ferrero, who once reigned as Spain's King of Clay.
Added the former world number one: "2004 is a bad memory that I don't need. I'm only concentrating on the future now. It's one match at a time and this is a start."
Ferrero, who suffered through a season of injury and illness including a case of chicken pox, overcame a potentially distracting moment late in the match as Montanes took treatment for thigh cramps at 30-all while serving for the match 5-4.
But after the 10-minute delay, Ferrero calmly held his nerve, breaking his countryman with a backhand drop shot on his way to victory two games later after two hours, 45 minutes
(...)
------------------------------------------
Revived Ferrero confident he's back to winning form
BARCELONA, April 19 (Reuters) - Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero says he has finally put a wretched 2004 behind him and believes he is approaching the sort of form he enjoyed when he won the French Open two years ago.
"I think I'm really playing quite well," Ferrero said after his 6-3 3-6 7-5 victory over fellow Spaniard Albert Montanes in the first round of the Barcelona Open on Tuesday.
"I want to forget last year. This is a new season and I don't think it is good to cast my mind back over what happened before. I'm feeling confident, happy with the way I'm playing and want to keep improving step by step."
Blighted by injury and illness, Ferrero had a miserable 2004, finishing outside the top 10 for the first time in four years and losing his place in Spain's victorious Davis Cup team.
After a subdued start to 2005, he returned to his favoured clay surface at his home tournament in Valencia earlier this month, only to be swept aside by the in-form Rafael Nadal 6-2 6-1.
But Ferrero did not let the heavy defeat upset him and reached his first ATP semi-final in a year at Monte Carlo last week, beating Marat Safin in the third round before succumbing to Argentine Gulliermo Coria.
He withstood some heavy pressure from Montanes in Tuesday's match, but never lost his concentration and pushed his fellow Spaniard to the limit in the decisive third set with his powerful rolling backhands and deft drop shots.
The 25-year-old believes that with a few more matches now under his belt he will be well on the way to recapturing his tournament-winning form of 2003.
"I played well at Monte Carlo and I played well today," he said. "Physically I feel 100 percent although my forehand does need a little work, and mentally I feel very strong.
"I wouldn't say that I am among the favourites here at Barcelona because there are so many good players here, but I am one of the players who are in with a chance."
With Roland Garros just round the corner, Ferrero's appetite has been whetted once more and he says that his sights are now set on winning a second grand slam tournament of his career.
"I'm concentrating on improving my performances over the whole year and I would rather win another grand slam than just move up the rankings. With the way I'm playing and the confidence I have I think that is now a realistic objective."
