INTERVIEW Day 6 - An interview with Juan Carlos Ferrero
Friday, June 2, 2006
Q. This is a match in which you had many options. You've also been playing very high?level tennis. What happened?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, the fact is that I was feeling quite well on court. I think I played a good match against someone who's a specialist on clay. I tried to do my best, but he was dominating the match all the time. He's been playing a very good game.
At 5-3 in the first, then at 5-2, it seemed as though he was perhaps letting down his level a little bit. There were a few shots that were not at his usual level. This is what helped me a bit because it could have been 6-2, 6-4. But it was 5-7, 5-7.
This was quite an equally balanced match. I think I played well throughout. He's won Grand Slams. He's one of the best on clay. It's very difficult to beat him.
Q. Did Gaudio play his best tennis today?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm not sure. The other day you said he was playing very well. I don't think he was playing his worst tennis today. These are matches that are really motivating. I don't think he made any unforced errors. He was putting up a good defense. He played a good match.
Q. You said that it was a bit disappointing to be so close to potentially winning the first two sets and then losing in three.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I think I've been playing well all the time. I did lose this match while still playing well. I might not look very well. Even in the third set, I was still trying. I was trying to win. I got a break in the third. In the end, I had an opportunity to get through, but it was tough throughout.
In the end, he played the last points better than I did.
Q. This is a match that's been decided in a few shots.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Indeed. I think if I'd have won that first set, it would be a different match.
Q. In the second set, you had a number of set points?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It was 5-2, 40-15. That was it. Then at 5-4, there were a number of deuces. I don't think I had any more.
Q. To summarize the key point of this match, was there a crucial point?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think the key to this match was the first two sets. I should have won those first two sets, and I lost them. I think that was the key of the match.
Q. Normally you are very much into the understanding of tennis. Have you realized that youngsters really hit the ball hard, and this is no longer the style of tennis that you and Gaudio play, which is slower?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Slower? I don't know. I think I was hitting the ball hard, especially the forehand. Gaudio hits harder than a number of people who you could name, particularly with a backhand. I don't think there are many people who hit a harder backhand.
I don't think what you just said makes much sense.
Q. You always gave the impression that this match could turn around at any moment.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. If you have a feeling that you can win in the first set and in the second set and in the third set, I was always trying to turn around this match, at least get a set, because he was running more than I was. At some point I was hoping that physically his fitness would let him down.
After about 40 minutes of this, well, you always hope that something's going to let go with the opponent.
Q. Next match? What are you going to do? Are you going to Wimbledon?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm going to 's?Hertogenbosch. As I was saying, I'm still having fun on court. I think I'm going to do better.
Q. There was information in the newspaper ABC.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Surprise me.
Q. No, it's not to surprise you. There is a possibility of writing about you.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, it's true that there's news. I heard that someone wanted to do this.
Q. Is he going to talk about it or you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I was discussing with this person face to face, I've been talking to him, and then he said no. He said the opposite. I decided to keep quiet about it. He said he was sorry. Anyway, we will see.
Q. There's no confirmation, you don't know anything about it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not a hundred percent, no.
Q. What happened in the second set when Gaudio started to complain?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: To me?
Q. I don't know if it was you or the umpire.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, it was on one shot that I thought was out. I marked it out. But I played it, so he thought if I played it, I couldn't complain it was out. I think that's what he was complaining about.
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Friday, June 2, 2006
Q. This is a match in which you had many options. You've also been playing very high?level tennis. What happened?JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, the fact is that I was feeling quite well on court. I think I played a good match against someone who's a specialist on clay. I tried to do my best, but he was dominating the match all the time. He's been playing a very good game.
At 5-3 in the first, then at 5-2, it seemed as though he was perhaps letting down his level a little bit. There were a few shots that were not at his usual level. This is what helped me a bit because it could have been 6-2, 6-4. But it was 5-7, 5-7.
This was quite an equally balanced match. I think I played well throughout. He's won Grand Slams. He's one of the best on clay. It's very difficult to beat him.
Q. Did Gaudio play his best tennis today?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm not sure. The other day you said he was playing very well. I don't think he was playing his worst tennis today. These are matches that are really motivating. I don't think he made any unforced errors. He was putting up a good defense. He played a good match.
Q. You said that it was a bit disappointing to be so close to potentially winning the first two sets and then losing in three.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I think I've been playing well all the time. I did lose this match while still playing well. I might not look very well. Even in the third set, I was still trying. I was trying to win. I got a break in the third. In the end, I had an opportunity to get through, but it was tough throughout.
In the end, he played the last points better than I did.
Q. This is a match that's been decided in a few shots.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Indeed. I think if I'd have won that first set, it would be a different match.
Q. In the second set, you had a number of set points?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It was 5-2, 40-15. That was it. Then at 5-4, there were a number of deuces. I don't think I had any more.
Q. To summarize the key point of this match, was there a crucial point?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think the key to this match was the first two sets. I should have won those first two sets, and I lost them. I think that was the key of the match.
Q. Normally you are very much into the understanding of tennis. Have you realized that youngsters really hit the ball hard, and this is no longer the style of tennis that you and Gaudio play, which is slower?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Slower? I don't know. I think I was hitting the ball hard, especially the forehand. Gaudio hits harder than a number of people who you could name, particularly with a backhand. I don't think there are many people who hit a harder backhand.
I don't think what you just said makes much sense.
Q. You always gave the impression that this match could turn around at any moment.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. If you have a feeling that you can win in the first set and in the second set and in the third set, I was always trying to turn around this match, at least get a set, because he was running more than I was. At some point I was hoping that physically his fitness would let him down.
After about 40 minutes of this, well, you always hope that something's going to let go with the opponent.
Q. Next match? What are you going to do? Are you going to Wimbledon?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm going to 's?Hertogenbosch. As I was saying, I'm still having fun on court. I think I'm going to do better.
Q. There was information in the newspaper ABC.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Surprise me.
Q. No, it's not to surprise you. There is a possibility of writing about you.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, it's true that there's news. I heard that someone wanted to do this.
Q. Is he going to talk about it or you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I was discussing with this person face to face, I've been talking to him, and then he said no. He said the opposite. I decided to keep quiet about it. He said he was sorry. Anyway, we will see.
Q. There's no confirmation, you don't know anything about it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not a hundred percent, no.
Q. What happened in the second set when Gaudio started to complain?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: To me?
Q. I don't know if it was you or the umpire.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, it was on one shot that I thought was out. I marked it out. But I played it, so he thought if I played it, I couldn't complain it was out. I think that's what he was complaining about.
> photos
