Juan Carlos Ferrero || Juanqui.net || A Juan Carlos Ferrero website » interviews

Wimledon: Ferrero d. Querrey 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-4

kat — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:27:38 +0000

June 23, 2008
LONDON, ENGLAND
J. FERRERO/S. Querrey
2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Q. I thought you’d forgotten how to play grass court tennis there for a set.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not really, but I was not playing for a couple of weeks because I was injured, so at the beginning I couldn’t get a lot of rhythm.
He plays very fast all the time with his serve and also with his forehand. You know, I was trying all the time, and since the second set I think I played a good match.

Q. With the way he hits the ball, he strikes very early. It must be very difficult to get a long rally to get some rhythm into the match.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, yeah, of course. But the big worry to me was try to move well on the court because of my injury in the last weeks. At the beginning I was a little bit slower than after.
It wasn’t the strokes or the rallies, I think. The best word for me was try to move well and try to hit the ball well.

Q. What’s his future, do you think?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Who?

Q. Sam Querrey.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. I think he has to learn like everybody, and I think he has good potential to play good. He has a very good serve, good forehand.
I think he can play really good in all surface, like he did. Maybe in the clay courts season he play good.

Q. What do you hope for when the U.S. hard court season begins? How many tournaments do you think you’ll be able to play?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I’m going to play Toronto and Cincinnati and the US Open.

Q. So that will be just enough?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.

Internazionali Bnl D’Italia: Ferrero d. Nadal 7-5 6-1

kat — Thu, 08 May 2008 07:23:59 +0000

May 7, 2008
ROME, ITALY
J. FERRERO/R. Nadal
7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You looked very happy at the end the match. Can you tell us what you felt and when it meant for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: At first I felt really happy because, you know, I played a really good match. I played very well the whole match.
After I was very happy because I beat the best in clay court. You know, I was also happy because I never beat him — I never won a set against him on clay court, so after the match I think for all this reason that I said I was pretty happy, of course.

Q. The fact that Rafa was injured – he complained about the foot injury at the press conference here – what does that take away from your win? Do you feel it takes a little bit of shine away from your win?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Could be, could be. But I also had injury in my abductor from yesterday. I couldn’t move 100% also. And you know when you go to the court and you decide to play, I think the injury is not reason to say yes or no.
I think, you know, he play as — I think — as good as he can with the injury and everything.
You know, at the end I play a little bit better than him. I think. I think. I don’t know if it was big reason to don’t play at his best level, the injury.
Q. Since when did you feel as good as that? Yesterday? Mentally, I mean, after a match.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, of course it’s very important win for me and I felt special — I feel special right now. It’s true that I didn’t have, you know, this special feelings since long time ago. I don’t remember, but maybe this year I played the final Auckland, and I was pretty happy when I won the semifinal.
But of course, it’s a little bit different here because I won a special match, of course.

Q. Do you feel it can change something for you mentally that you beat Rafa? You were the best on clay and he was also.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No.

Q. In your mind?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I change some things, of course, but also because I play against him in Monte-Carlo and, you know, it was 6-4, 6-1. But I think it is very close match because we play almost all games deuce/advantage all the time.
So, you know, I change little things, but not too much. I tried to be a little bit more aggressive and try to finish the point better than the other day. Because the other day maybe my mistake was not to finish as good as today the points at the end of the point, you know?

Q. What are the feelings before the match when you’re playing Rafa who has one 100 matches on clay and you never won a set on clay. What are your feelings when you go into such a match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The feelings, as I said, try to play a little bit better than I did before. Because we played in Monte-Carlo, and also, of course, you try to go to the court and give your best because you don’t have reason to be with a lot of pression because he’s important on the court right now because he has the record and he has everything.
So I was trying to play at the same level that I was playing on clay courts before, and I think mentally I was so, so strong today. I had things very clear in my mind, and I got through it, you know, and I did it.

Q. Your abductor, does it feel good or okay for the rest of the tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I feel okay. Last week I pull out from Barcelona because of this, and in the match of Kiefer I feel it again. You know, today I put a bandage on so it’s good and I play good. I could move well.

Q. Wawrinka just won. What are your feelings for him?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Last time I played against him was in Vienna in indoor. I never play against him in clay court, so I have to go to the court and try to play same level as I’m playing.
So I’m going to try to think of myself and not him. Of course, he’s playing good because he make semifinal last week and he’s playing good clay court.

Q. Now that the draw is very open I think, how do you rate your chances to be maybe in the final?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It’s open, but it’s a lot of big names. I think I have to think now of Wawrinka and not more, because all matches are different and all matches are difficult. So I think Wawrinka is a big player, and tonight I’m going to think of Wawrinka and that’s it.

Q. How much do you think this loss and the injury is going to affect Nadal’s preparation for Roland Garros?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. Maybe you have to ask him. I don’t think he’s going to change a lot, because, you know, it’s one week that he lost and he will try again to play his level in Hamburg.
He has a lot of time to prepare for Roland Garros, so I don’t think this lose is going to change a lot.

Indian Wells: Ferrero d. Ancic 7-5 4-6 7-6

kat — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:16:23 +0000

Pacific Life Open (Indian Wells)
18 March 2008
J. Ferrero/M. Ancic 7-5 4-6 7-6
An interview with: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO

Q.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I’m very happy about my game today. I played very well. I think whole match was a good match until the end. I couldn’t finish, I think, first because I had a lot of chances in the third set, 15 40 and also to advantage to try to break his serve. And at the end, I was 6 4 down in the tiebreak, and was funny to play. I think I enjoy it.

Q. Juan Carlos you’re 28 now. Ten years past Roland Garros junior final. Five years will be your anniversary for the win. What keeps you motivated and going on a day to day basis?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Sometimes it’s difficult, for sure, because you travel a lot, and sometimes the matches are going the way that you don’t like. But, anyway, I love tennis, and I enjoying playing tennis yet, so it’s the key to keep working.
Q. Do titles matter to you as much as they used to, winning titles?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, of course it is. But, you know, I’m not thinking about it so much. Just wanted to work, to try to win some tournaments, sure.

Q. The older you get your perspective changes just a little bit to keep yourself mentally fresh?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not not a lot of change. The only matter to me I try to keep the motivation so high and be physically very good, because I think it’s very important, and be fit the whole time.

Q. Do you feel like you’re a better player than you were five years ago?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think so. I think so. Mentally I’m so much better, I think, so much stronger. And physically I think I’m so much better than before. I don’t know, maybe I improve a little bit my serve, also my backhand, so I don’t know why I’m not winning tournaments.

Q. Do you feel like a lot of the same guys you were playing in 2003 are…
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I play finals I think, you know, I had a little bit of bad luck, because all years I play finals so I could win tournaments, I could still win tournaments. So if I do not play like in five or six years of final, of course I’m going to think what’s wrong. But I’m still playing finals, important finals, Masters Series last year in Monte Carlo, so keep going, just keep going.

Q. Is it sort of strange looking around the area and seeing all these young players and you’re a veteran now? Does that seem a little funny to you, almost?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I’m not like veteran at all. I’m 28, so not really. Of course, I’m, you know, I look to Rafa or Djokovic or some of these guys, and of course they are so young. But I pass through this age and I’m thinking of me and not the others

Q. So you’re saying you’re better now, which is understandable. But you were No. 1 in 2003. During that summer, except for the US Open final, you were a pretty dominant player, no?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah.

Q. So you feel you’re better now, but then you were winning more, so the connection is where?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It’s all about, I think, confidence. You’re allowed to win a lot of matches, you know, and it’s like the people has a lot of respect to you and a lot of matches you’re winning, like, you know how to play. Right now I’m not seeded in a lot of tournaments and I have to play against the best players in maybe second or third round, so it’s not easier as before, that I have to play against these players in semis or finals.

Q. Does it amaze you a little bit that Rafa has been able to win Roland Garros three times in a row? You went to the final, you won it, you’ve been close to the top. Three times in a row is not so easy.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course not. It’s not easy, but I think he’s very strong, and, you know, on clay he’s one of the best in the world, or maybe the best. You know, what can I say?

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the next round. Playing against David. What’s going to be the key for that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The key is for me very important to recover so good for tomorrow. I have a little time to recover. I play second, so, you know, I’m going to recover fast. I have to play very aggressive as in Australia I play it. I try to be very aggressive with his second set and try to take the point before him.

Q. Can you talk about the hotel you bought, that’s yours, your hotel you bought, Hotel Ferrero?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah. The hotel, it’s open like seven months ago, and it’s working very well. It has 12 rooms, 8 rooms different, I mean, the design is different. We have, like a big place for party, weddings. It’s going good.

Q. It’s not that common for tennis players to go do that, especially while they’re playing. Why did you decide to do that now as opposed to maybe when you retire?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Because I don’t have to do it when I just retire. I think I have time to make some business, as well, right now. I have people that I have a lot of confidence with them, and, you know, I bought the place, and it was the time to make it.

Q. So is it close to the beach of Valencia; is that right?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It’s in the interior. It’s like 40 minutes from the beach. It’s like 40 minutes to Valencia and 40 minutes to Alicante.

Q. Is it in the mountains a little bit? Very pretty, nice place?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Q. Are you planning on putting up more hotels, or just that one?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Just for the moment that’s enough.

Q. How much does it cost to stay there? Can we get a deal?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. There’s different price. (laughter.)

Q. Friends, one thing, journalists?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: We can make a deal. Don’t worry.

Q. Really? Are you going to advertise your hotel will you ever advertise your hotel around here at the tournaments?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know, maybe.

Q. So a tennis court, is there tennis court there?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: There is a grass court.

Q. Seriously?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, it’s just to enjoy. It’s not to…

Q. So it sounds like a Wimbledon grass court. You didn’t bring in the groundskeepers?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no.

Australian Open: Ferrer d. Ferrero 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1

kat — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 07:17:25 +0000

Austrlaian Open
21 January 2008
D. Ferrer/J. C. FERRERO 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
An interview with: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO

Q. It was a big match. Did you expect it to be that difficult?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Always play against David is difficult. He doesn’t do a lot of mistakes in the court. Physically he’s very complete, so is very difficult to win against him the points. You know, you have to fight all the time. I knew before the match that it’s going to be difficult.

Q. Do you think the fact you know each other so well made the match so close?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah and no. I don’t know. I don’t know. I think we both play good level, so it’s the reason it was everything close.
Q. You know his style of play very well. He knows your style of play very well. Do you think you were anticipating or knew what to expect from each other too much?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Sometimes yes, but I think is not the key of the match to win or lose.

Q. How do you think your game was out there today? How do you think you’ll progress in the tournament?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think I played a good match today. I didn’t serve as the other days, but the rest I think I played a solid match.

Q. Do you think he’ll have plenty of time to recover for his next match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course, yes. It’s 24 hours. More than 24 hours. He will be fit again for sure.

Q. Looks like it’s going to be Novak. How do you think he’ll go against him?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Every match they play was close. I think the two times they played Novak won the match. I don’t know. David is playing good tennis. I give him some chance to win.

Australian Open: Ferrero d. Nalbandian 6-1 6-2 6-3

kat — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 07:19:00 +0000

Austrlaian Open
20 January 2008
J. C. FERRERO/D. Nalbandian 6-1, 6-2, 6-3
An interview with: JUAN CARLOS FERRERO

Q. When was the last time you played so well?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, I came playing this well since — you know, last year at the end I play good matches. You know, last week in Auckland I played also I think a good level. But, you know, anyway, I’m improving. When you play matches against like the top players like today, you know, you want to make your best. And I think I did it very well.

Q. What did you like about your game today?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: My serve, and also I think I reach all the opportunities that he gave me, breakpoints and set points. I play very aggressive all the time and I didn’t miss it. You know, it’s completely happy about it.
Q. Do you think last year’s winning one set against Federer at Wimbledon was a turning point for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no, no, no. No, I had a lot of battles against Federer. I won sometimes and I lose more times than I win. But, anyway, you know, that match was special to play in Wimbledon against him and I won a set. But I play good, so was one more match for me.

Q. Domachowska has won and will play Venus Williams. Are you voting for her? Do you give her any advice? Is it nice for you to see her doing well?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course, it’s very nice to see her winning because she was practicing at my academy. I know her very well. So I’m really happy because she’s winning. Last year, she miss a lot in the rankings, so she’s coming back.

Q. When was the last time you played that well?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I’m playing good tennis since, I don’t know, two months, something like this. I practice so hard in December. Last week I played good. At the end of the last year I played good matches against top players. I came playing well. But also the final of last week give me a lot of confidence to came here and try to play at the same level. I think I’m doing like this.

Q. Did you change anything over your break that you normally have?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not really. Not really. I was trying the same. But maybe I was trying to be as aggressive as I was before when I was No. 1 or reaching my best results. So right now I’m trying to go to the court and be very aggressive all the time, be more aggressive than maybe the other guy. So that is giving me good results.

Q. Did you watch Roger Federer last night?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: A little bit, yeah.

Q. What did you make of that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I think Tipsarevic, he reach amazing level. He played really good. And Federer maybe, you know, he was a little bit surprised when maybe he was two sets to one down. So he realized that he has to win in the fifth if he wants to win. So, you know, he didn’t play I think his best. But, anyway, he won.

Q. What about your next match against your compatriot?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It’s going to be a special match. We know each other. We live in the same place. So we practice a lot of times together. We are so good friends. So tomorrow is going to be very special. You know, we’ll see what’s happen.

Q. Is he one of the fittest players around?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, of course, it is. He’s playing so good tennis. He’s so fit. He likes to play like this. He’s with a lot of confidence since last year. He reach the final in Masters. It’s going to be tough.

Masters Series Cincinnati: Ferrero d. Gonzalez 6-2 7-6(7)

kat — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 05:15:34 +0000

August 15, 2007
CINCINNATI, OHIO

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk about to how nerve-wracking it gets when you have so many match points and they go by? Does it put pressure in your mind or do you just try to work on the next point?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You have to try to think in the next point, of course. When you lose attempts to win the match of course you think a little bit too much, but in these kind of moments you have to think in the next point and be focus in the next point. No more.

Q. You served really well today. How do you feel?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah. One of the key of the match I think I served really well in important moment. A few aces at important moments like 7-7 in the tiebreak. And also one of the important keys today was I think return. I return really good his serve and I put all the balls in. I play a really solid match.
Q. Before you won you had those two really close calls in the tiebreaker. I was watching from up above and my view of was partially blocked by the tent sort of thing. Could you describe those points, the one where you went over the chair?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, match point. It was very important point for me. The return, somebody tell me here that the ball was good and somebody is telling me that the ball was out.

So from my position I saw the ball good, and you know, it was important match and I have to say something. I couldn’t keep it inside. And then the other point also was a little bit the same. You can’t do anything without the challenge.

Q. How much do you think it shows the difference between playing on Center Court and playing on Grandstand in a circumstance like that?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course it’s a big difference, because in these moments you can ask for a challenge and decide to repeat the point or not. So of course it’s a big difference. It’s important difference.

Q. You’ve played well here even going back to 2005. You played Roddick that year in the second round that year and played a really good match. Then last year making the final. You feel good on those courts? What is about here?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah. I feel good on these courts, and also the warm conditions that we have here. I feel great. So it’s, you know, important tournament for me because I defend the final of last year. And also I play two semifinals here, so of course I feel good. I don’t know why, but I feel comfortable here.

Q. At this point in your career do you feel like you’re almost a better player on hard and grass than on clay?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Almost. Almost, almost. I like to play on all kind of surface, but I feel pretty good on grass as well and I feel pretty good here on fast courts.
And in clay you have to fight so much more and, you know, I start to feel a little bit better on these kind of courts than clay.

Q. Are you sponsored by Prince anymore?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No. It’s Prince racquet but I’m not sponsored by them for the moment.

Masters Series Canada: Hewitt d. Ferrero 7-6(5) 6-4

kat — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:18:33 +0000

ROGERS MASTERS
August 6, 2007
MONTREAL, QUEBEC

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Juan Carlos.

Q. How do you analyze the match? Where do you think that Lleyton played maybe better?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think was pretty close match – both sets. When I finished first set, I think, you know, the first-serve percentage was the same, the winners was the same. Was pretty close, only he won one more point than me in the first set. It’s difficult to say what he did better than me.
Second set, of course, the only game I played bad in the whole match was the first game of the second set. It was very important to the end of the match.

Q. I guess it also demonstrate for a tournament like this, the draw is very difficult, to have a match-up like that in the first round.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, it’s pretty difficult to have it. There is a lot of tough match in the draw, in the first round. Obviously, mine was the toughest one. You know, it’s like this. We cannot do anything for it.
Q. I was also wondering, what do you think changed in the game of tennis in the tour than when Lleyton and you were No. 1 in the world?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. Maybe basically we are stronger than before. I don’t think many things changed a lot. But physically, of course, we are getting stronger.

Q. You feel that you have to be like physically in better shape to compete at that level?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I think so. To be fit the whole year, you have to be very strong because we play a lot of tournament, you know, week by week. We play a lot of matches.

Q. It wasn’t as demanding a couple of years ago?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, was the same, but you could choose what tournament you play. Now you have to choose which tournaments you play to get a lot of points. It’s important.

Q. Is the calendar stronger than it was two or three years ago?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think is a little bit stronger, yeah, yeah. I think so.

Q. Has Lleyton’s game changed at all?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, I don’t think so.

Q. Same player?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah. He serves good. From baseline I think he doesn’t do a lot of mistakes. You have to win the point, every point. You know, you have to be very aggressive all the time and be very solid and do no mistakes at all because, of course, you going to lose easy against him.

Q. What are your plans leading up to the US Open? Cincinnati and then off?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Cincinnati and then off, then US Open.

Q. New Haven is not in that mix? Cincinnati straight to the US Open?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I never played New Haven. I think these two tournaments are important, and then maybe three or four days of practice strong, then try to be fit for the US.

Wimbledon: Federer d. Ferrero 7-6(2) 3-6 6-1 6-3

kat — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:24:06 +0000

WIMBLEDON
July 6, 2007
LONDON, ENGLAND

THE MODERATOR: Juan Carlos. Who would like to ask the first question?

Q. How did you feel today? Must have thought you were in with a pretty good chance after that second set.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, you know, today was all the time very difficult to hit the ball, you know, nicely like the other days.
During the third set I start to, you know, not feel the ball as nice as I was feeling the first two sets. You know, I couldn’t make any point in the third.
But then at the fourth, I try it again. I did a lot of (indiscernible) but the little chances with two breakpoints in the third game, and I couldn’t make it. Was difficult to break his serve.

Q. The conditions with the wind, do you feel had it been a calmer day you could have given more of a challenge?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I knew before to play him that always is very difficult to beat him in any conditions. But today, you know, the worst conditions to feel the ball good, try to hit the ball strong all the time.

Today was almost impossible to hit the ball three times nice. Was very difficult to play out there.
Q. You must be very happy you’re the first guy to take a set off him.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, you know. Happy to have a set against him? No, no. I was trying to win the match, not to win a set. I think is the important thing playing against him. I don’t care if I am on grass or hard court or clay court, I try to win the match, not to win a set.

Q. Do you think someone can stop him this year?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. If he played the way he used to play in semifinals or final or during the whole tournament, I think is very difficult that he lose.
But, anyway, Rafa right now is playing very good. I think he improve a little bit since the last two matches because at the beginning was a little bit worse than now. Who knows. I don’t know.

Q. Do you think Rafa is the biggest danger?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, Djokovic just won, but I think he’s going to be a little bit tired tomorrow. I think Rafa can have his chance to win tomorrow, try to be ready in the final.

Wimbledon: Ferrero d. Tipsarevic 7-5 6-3 7-6(5)

kat — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 05:30:27 +0000

WIMBLEDON
July 3, 2007
LONDON, ENGLAND

THE MODERATOR: Juan Carlos Ferrero. Questions, please.

Q. After winning two sets in the third round, the tiebreak, what was going through your mind?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Today?

Q. Yes.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It was very important to win because the rain was coming again. You know, I knew was a very important match for me, so tried to finish in three sets. Also I think was very important to be fit as well tomorrow.

Q. How do you feel about the fact that Roger has had a nice long rest?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, you know, he has a little bit lucky with this match against Haas. But, anyway, if he had to play a matches or not, it’s going to be the same tomorrow I think. Physically he’s very good, so he recover very good, so doesn’t matter if he played or not.
Tomorrow is going to be difficult same as if he didn’t play.
Q. You must be pleased with your form.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I hope so. I’m playing good. Tomorrow I’m going to be full. I’m going to try everything. I know it’s difficult to win because he has a very good record here.

But, anyway, I have nothing to lose tomorrow so I will try my best. I’m playing good, so I’m confident.

Q. Does it give you freedom playing Federer? Everybody thinks he’s going to win.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, is normal because he won four times here. He wants to win the fifth to be in the record.
I know is his favorite surface. But, anyway, I like to play on grass. I’m playing good. I’m confident. He’s a human guy, so I will try everything.

Q. Do you have a specific strategy?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, of course, I will try to attack more to his backhand. I think I will have to serve very good to try to keep my service unbroken. The rest, you know, try to return well as I’ve been doing the whole tournament and play.

You know, I played against him here. Was not an easy match for him I think. I will try. Is one more match. I know is special match tomorrow. But is human. He has a racquet as me, so I will try my best.

Q. Because he’s had such a long layoff, is there a possibility he’ll be out of his rhythm maybe early on?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. I will see at the beginning. I will see how he will start, if he’s with rhythm or not. But anyway, these matches are very long. It’s best-of-five. He has enough time to get rhythm first, second, or third set.

Q. I understand you’re a Real Madrid fan.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.

Q. Did you watch the game when they won the title?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I was there.

Q. Big boost for you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I was happy. We were suffering a lot.

Q. Were you sad to see David Beckham go?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Oh, the football. Yes, of course. I think he’s a nice guy and he played amazing, you know, at the end. I don’t know what to say.

Q. Do you think it will help you in way that you played Federer before at this stage?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It’s a help because you have experience to play with him here. It’s supposed that he showed the best level he has in this surface. Is a good experience, the possibility to play again against him. Play before, it’s very important I think.

Q. Is this the best you’ve played on grass so far?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, it’s the best result of course. Anyway, all the years I think I play really good in here. But I couldn’t won the fourth round. That was very important for me.

But, of course, I’m playing a good tennis, the way that I want to play here.

Q. You had a great year in 2003. Do you feel you’re a better all-around player than you were then?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t want to compare. It’s almost impossible to compare 2003 and 2007. It’s a long way, a long time ago. I don’t know. I feel that I’m playing very good right now.

Q. Where do you see yourself in this championship? Semifinals, finals?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: My goal at the beginning when I saw the draw, it’s to get until quarterfinal. But right now my best goal is try to win tomorrow. Will be a very important win to me if I win. You know, go step by step.

Tournament is still. Doesn’t matter if I play against Federer. I would like to win, of course. I don’t have to think that tomorrow is going to be the last match of the tournament for me.

Q. Federer or Nadal, against them, which of the Grand Slams offers you your best chance of victory?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: What?

Q. With Federer and Nadal gone, which of the Grand Slams offers you your best chance of victory?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don’t know. I make great results in every one. I won the Grand Slam in Roland Garros and I played more finals and semifinals there. Maybe I had more chances to win there.

But I like to play on hard court. I make finals, semifinals of Australian, US Open. Maybe Australia because I like to play there also.

Q. Could it be a good thing for you that the courts changed during the two weeks, it becomes more of a hard court game the second week?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I feel today that the Court 3, it’s very different than Court 1. It was faster. Court 1 was slower. At the beginning I feel it a little bit.
Centre Court I didn’t play. I didn’t know how is it. But, of course, it’s important if it’s a little bit slower for me.

Q. How would you assess your opponent today?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He tries to serve very good all the time. He make a little bit mistakes in important moments like 5-5 in the first set or in the second. I think mentally he was a little bit down because he lost the first set.

In the third he tried. I mean, I play good and he tried, but I think I play better.

Wimbledon: Ferrero d. Blake 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6(4)

kat — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 05:38:50 +0000

WIMBLEDON
June 29, 2007
LONDON, ENGLAND

THE MODERATOR: Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Q. Was that one of your best performances on grass of your career?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Could be, yeah. Could be. The most important thing today I think I enjoy it the whole match. Maybe less the first set, then I start to play very aggressive all the time with my serve and with my forehand, attacking to his backhand all the time.
You know, like I said, I enjoyed the whole match. This is the more important thing.

Q. Have you come to enjoy playing on grass more over the years, or is it still something you don’t particularly look forward to?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course you have to learn a lot to play very good on grass. You know, during passing the years of course I enjoy much to play here.
But anyway I thinking in the last two or three years it’s slower, the courts, and we have more time to try to hit good the ball. So I think it’s important also for the players.
Q. How confident do you feel at the moment?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I feel pretty good right now. I mean, confidence and mentally and physically. So I’m in fourth round against Tipsarevic. It’s going to be a tough match.
But, you know, is a good round for me. I’m with a lot of confidence, so I had try to play the best tennis I have.

Q. The game obviously seemed to delight the crowd today. Were you conscious of that during the match?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think the people enjoy it a lot. We play nice points, long points, short points, a couple rallies. You know, was a complete match, I think.

Q. Four or five years ago the Spanish attitude was to stay at home and go shopping in Barcelona.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Not me, no.

Q. There are 14 Spanish men in the draw this year. Why do you think the attitude has changed so much?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I’m not sure. Maybe one of the things is maybe because the courts are slower and we can play a little bit more comfortable.
Anyway, it’s the seventh time I play here, so I always try to come here and learn how to play on grass. I don’t know about the other players, but I think there is a couple players, they can play very good.
I think, you know, Rafa did last year. This is the fourth time I make the fourth round here. You know, Verdasco, I think he plays very good here. Feliciano. There are a couple players that we can play really good here. I think why not we have to come here and play good.

Q. There was an incident where the ball hit the post, went through the net, and he got the point. Were you aware immediately the ball had gone through the net rather than over it?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I thought was under the net, so maybe was my point. But chair umpire, I don’t know what’s happen.

Q. You can’t call Hawk-Eye.
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I told him, but he told me that is impossible to see it.

Q. First time that’s happened to you?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course. I think it didn’t happen a lot.

Q. Your net play, you had some superb statistics about winning points at the net. Is that something you have deliberately tried to improve?
JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, of course. Here I think you have a lot of chances to finish the points on the net. You know, I think is one of the keys if you want to improve here, you have to finish some points in the net, of course.