from ATP Tennis
22 May 2004

* THE DEFENDING CHAMPION — Juan Carlos Ferrero is trying to become the first player to repeat as champion at Roland Garros since Gustavo Kuerten in 2000-2001. But the Spaniard is trying to regain his form from last year when he came into Paris with a 21-2 clay court match record and winner of two clay court titles. This year he has been hampered by illness and injury and he enters Paris with a 5-2 clay court mark without a title. In March, Ferrero missed one month of action after contracting chicken pox. He returned in April for a quarterfinal Davis Cup against the Netherlands (winning both matches) and then followed with a semifinal showing in Valencia and first round exit in Monte Carlo on Apr. 20, his last match. He was not ready to come back until Hamburg but he injured his right wrist and ribs when he fell while practicing in Valencia on May 8 just two days before the start of the tournament.
In an AS Diario – Madrid interview on May 15, Ferrero said, “I see myself well. Starting on Monday, I’ll resume my usual training routine. I asked for a Tuesday start at Roland Garros to have an extra day. I’m fighting against the clock, because whenever I think I have recovered something else happens to me. However, I’m used to it. It’s normal that we players are always suffering from one kind of pain or other. I hope to be well when I reach Paris, if not, I’ll adapt as needed.”Other back-to-back Roland Garros winners in the Open Era: Jan Kodes (1970-71), Borg (1974-75 and 1978-81), Ivan Lendl (1986-87), Jim Courier (1991-92), Sergi Bruguera (1993-94) and, most recently, Gustavo Kuerten (2000-01).