Posts Tagged ‘2004’

11 March 2004

Second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain has withdrawn from the Pacific Life Open, it was announced today by tournament officials. Ferrero has contracted chickenpox and will not compete here because of the illness.

Ferrero, who is No. 2 in the INDESIT ATP Entry Rankings, will be replaced in the main draw by Jeff Salzenstein as the ‘Lucky Loser’ Salzenstein was the highest-ranked player to lose in the final round of the qualifying draw. By rule, he moves into the draw spot formerly occupied by Gaston Gaudio of Argentina, who is awarded the No. 33 seed and replaces Ferrero’s spot on the bottom line of the draw.

Tournament physician Dr. Ken Anderson examined Ferrero at his local hotel room on Wednesday and diagnosed the illness.

“I found out yesterday that I had the chickenpox,” said Ferrero from his hotel room on Thursday afternoon. “Sometimes things happen and you can’t do anything about it. I am disappointed because I was looking forward to playing here.”

Salzenstein will play wild card Alex Bogomolov Jr in the first round, while Gaudio receives a bye into the second round and will face the winner of Wayne Ferreira vs. Igor Andreev.

Main draw play at the Pacific Life Open begins on Friday and continues through Sunday, March 21.

from Ace Magazine – special thanks to Kiara for typing it up!
March 2004
>> Scans from the magazine
“Inconspicuous” would be the kindest way to describe the small bungalow that Juan Carlos Ferrero lives in at his tennis academy in central Spain. So modest that if the local estate agent were to stick a photo of it up in his shop window it would barely catch the eye of a passer by.
It’s a nondescript, two bedroom, peach coloured building over looking a flat, featureless farmland.
When he’s not on tour this is where the world number 3 spends most of his time. And he doesn’t even live there alone- he shares accommodation with Israel’s Matos Gil, ranked 598 on the ATP computer.
To be fair Ferrero also owns a rather large home in Valencia which far more befits his status as a millionaire several times over. But when he’s training at the academy – The JC Ferrero Equelite Acedemia de Tenis- The French Open champion likes to keep things unpretentious.
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from Ace Magazine
March 2004

Ace asks six of the world’s top players how they used the winter break to get ready for 2004.

Juan Carlos Ferrero
“This past winter I didn’t have so much time to work a lot. I started on December 15, so I only had three weeks’ holiday after the Masters Cup. I worked hard in the gym, to develop my power. After a week of very hard work in the gym, I started to practice my tennis, day-to-day more hours. Finally, I began to practice normally.”

from Reuters
26 February 2004
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Tired top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was knocked out in the first round of the Marseille Open on Wednesday, losing 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, to Frenchman Gregory Carraz.
“Motivation was not lacking, strength was,” said world number two Ferrero, who was beaten in two hours and 13 minutes.
“I did not play my best tennis because I was not 1OO percent physically,” the Spaniard added.
Ferrero had replaced world number one Roger Federer as top seed after the Australian Open champion pulled out before the start of the tournament complaining of general weariness.
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from the official ATP Tennis website
26 February 2004

Ferrero went to visit the port of the Vallon des Auffes as well as the giant poster of French soccer star Zinedine Zidane on the Corniche. The Spaniard also attended an interview and photo shoot with La Provence newspaper, the biggest daily in Marseille, which made the front page…

>> You can find the photo of JC with the Zidane poster here

from the official Rotterdam website
22 February 2004
The 31st ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament lasted a little too long for Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Spaniard, who will rank second in the world as of tomorrow morning, had the better opportunities during the second set. He had two breakpoints during the seventh game, but failed to use them.
“Lleyton fought like a lion, and appeared to be incredibly fit. He seemed to be wherever I played the ball. Admittedly, he has played fewer sets this tournament. I had two opportunities, but missed one by hitting a stray forehand and the other by hitting the ball in the net.” Ferrero was disappointed, but not dejected: “I have played several great matches here, and was nearly knocked out of the tournament. Maybe it was simply one set too many.” “Lleyton Hewitt is playing well. He previously ranked first in the world, and he’s on his way back. I feel fully-recovered, and intend to play in Marseille next week, so that I can gain additional indoor experience.’’
Hewitt: “Thank you, Juan Carlos!”
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