ARTICLE Ferrero eyes Thailand Open title
Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain believes he can lift the King’s Cup of this year’s $550,000 Thailand Open saying his goal is to get back into the world’s top ten players.
Ferrero, now ranked #18 in the world, was runner-up at the inaugural Thailand Open in 2003 losing to American Taylor Dent 6-3, 7-6 (5). Seeded sixth in this year’s tournament, Ferrero will take on qualifier Mischa Zverev, ranked 196th of Germany, in the first round starting tomorrow.
Ferrero, 26, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday. He told local reporters that recent political tension in Thailand did not worry him. “The situation is nothing like what I thought from watching international TV coverage. I feel very comfortable being in Bangkok,” he said. The Spanish star also commented that this year’s organization was better than in 2003 citing the practice courts were closer to the main arena.
The 26-year-old who is part of a top line-up at the Thailand Open said he always aims to finish winner in every tournament he attends. However, he admitted this year’s draw was tough as he might meet world #8 and second seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the quarter-finals.
The last of the big names arrived in Bangkok yesterday including American world #9 James Blake and former world #1 Marat Safin who arrived together from Moscow. Last year’s runner-up and world #16 Andy Murray also arrived with his new coach Brad Gilbert. “I’m happy to be returning to Bangkok and hope to go one better than I did last year,” Murray told organizers.
Thailand #1 one eighth seed Paradorn Srichaphan also flew into Bangkok yesterday after the Davis Cup tie in Germany.
In qualifying match results Monday: Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat Dmitri Sitak (Russia) 6-2, 7-5, Lars Burgsmuller (Germany) beat Benjamin Balleret (Monaco) 7-6(2), 6-1. Michael Ryderstedt (Sweden) beat Matthias Bachinger (Germany) 7-5, 6-4 and George Bastl (Switzerland) beat Satoshi Iwabuchi (Japan) 6-1, 6-1 to take the last four places in the main draw.
Zverev will meet Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final match of the day session of play. American heartthrob Robby Ginepri will also take on Dane Kenneth Carlsen in the second match of the day. Top seed Ivan Ljubicic will play the night’s feature match followed by Danai Udomchoke and Germany’s Rainer Schuettler combining in the doubles.
Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain believes he can lift the King’s Cup of this year’s $550,000 Thailand Open saying his goal is to get back into the world’s top ten players.
Ferrero, now ranked #18 in the world, was runner-up at the inaugural Thailand Open in 2003 losing to American Taylor Dent 6-3, 7-6 (5). Seeded sixth in this year’s tournament, Ferrero will take on qualifier Mischa Zverev, ranked 196th of Germany, in the first round starting tomorrow.
Ferrero, 26, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday. He told local reporters that recent political tension in Thailand did not worry him. “The situation is nothing like what I thought from watching international TV coverage. I feel very comfortable being in Bangkok,” he said. The Spanish star also commented that this year’s organization was better than in 2003 citing the practice courts were closer to the main arena.
The 26-year-old who is part of a top line-up at the Thailand Open said he always aims to finish winner in every tournament he attends. However, he admitted this year’s draw was tough as he might meet world #8 and second seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the quarter-finals.
The last of the big names arrived in Bangkok yesterday including American world #9 James Blake and former world #1 Marat Safin who arrived together from Moscow. Last year’s runner-up and world #16 Andy Murray also arrived with his new coach Brad Gilbert. “I’m happy to be returning to Bangkok and hope to go one better than I did last year,” Murray told organizers.
Thailand #1 one eighth seed Paradorn Srichaphan also flew into Bangkok yesterday after the Davis Cup tie in Germany.
In qualifying match results Monday: Mischa Zverev (Germany) beat Dmitri Sitak (Russia) 6-2, 7-5, Lars Burgsmuller (Germany) beat Benjamin Balleret (Monaco) 7-6(2), 6-1. Michael Ryderstedt (Sweden) beat Matthias Bachinger (Germany) 7-5, 6-4 and George Bastl (Switzerland) beat Satoshi Iwabuchi (Japan) 6-1, 6-1 to take the last four places in the main draw.
Zverev will meet Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final match of the day session of play. American heartthrob Robby Ginepri will also take on Dane Kenneth Carlsen in the second match of the day. Top seed Ivan Ljubicic will play the night’s feature match followed by Danai Udomchoke and Germany’s Rainer Schuettler combining in the doubles.
