from Eurosport
25 October 2002

Second seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero on Thursday consolidated his claims for an automatic qualifying place for the end-of-season Masters Cup when he brushed aside the challenge of Nicolas Thomann 6-4 6-2 at the Swiss Indoors tournament.

Ferrero, who beat Swiss wild card Marc Rosset in two tight sets in the first round on Wednesday, had little difficulty in disposing of the Frenchman and claiming a quarter-final meeting with fellow-Spaniard Felix Mantilla.
For Ferrero, who is fourth in the ATP Champions Race for seven automatic qualifying places for the Shanghai showpiece, it was a welcome trouble-free passage.

A place in the last eight earns him at least 12 points and $27,000 so it was no surprise that he was relaxed and happy with his performance.

“I think I did well today, I served well and I dealt with his serve too,” he said. “It takes the pressure off me. Now I hope to win the quarter-final and that would be another good result for me.”

Ferrero, 22, has made a strong recovery this year after missing the opening Grand Slam event, the Australian Open, through injury.

“It was tough for me to come back after that because it put me under pressure to collect points in important tournaments like Roland Garros and Monte Carlo,” he explained. “But I am pleased to be playing well at the moment and feel good indoors on these courts.”

He added: “If I can be in the semi-finals here in Basel I think I will then be very close to Shanghai and that is good. But it is not something I think about on the court. Then I just concentrate on the match.”