from sun-sentinel.com by Charles Bricker
24 May 2004

PARIS: Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero had just gotten back from Spain’s royal wedding and now, after another painful training session Sunday, he sounded as if he was headed for a wake.

Looking despondent and sounding pessimistic, Ferrero admitted that he is still in pain from a rib injury that felled him three weeks ago and that he is less than 50-50 to go on court for his opening match Tuesday against Tommy Haas, the former world No. 2.

“I think I have more possibilities to not play, but I don’t know yet for sure. Tomorrow, I will know,” said Ferrero, who raced through surprise finalist Martin Verkerk a year ago to win the 2003 French.

If he withdraws, it will send a fourth lucky loser, Hyung-Taik Lee of South Korea, into the main draw to play Haas, who also is not in the best of health. Haas, the German star who lives in Sarasota, is trying to get rid of chest congestion brought on by a viral infection two weeks ago in Hamburg.

A Ferrero withdrawal also will put American Robert Kendrick, who lives part time on Sanibel Island, one spot away from becoming the fifth lucky loser.
Ferrero was on court early to test the injury and he knew immediately what he suspected all along — that he is nowhere near pain-free. Before the hour was up, he slammed his racket to the clay in anger, packed his bag and walked off.

He had fallen on his racket May 8 while practicing in Spain and bruised the ribs. “Any movement I do I have pain there,” he said.

If he pulls out, it will be the first time since 1991, when Andres Gomez did not play, that a defending men’s champion failed to defend.

This has been a horrific year for Ferrero, who had chicken pox early in the season, followed by the rib injury and a viral infection. “Nothing is going right. But last year I play unbelievable tennis the whole year. This year is … pretty different. I couldn’t play the Masters Series and Rome, one of the tournaments I like to play. And here I am in the same way again.”

He plans to take a painkilling injection before practice today and give it one final test.

Two years ago, Ferrero reached the final, where he lost to Albert Costa, playing on a sprained ankle. “But I was winning a lot of important matches. I was in the final, you know. So this year, why not? If I can do the same, it will be perfect. But I don’t know yet.”

Because he strokes the ball with a classic body turn instead of an open stance, every stroke produces pain from the injured rib cartilage, including his serve.