After suffering an miserable season which saw him miss several important tournaments this year, Juan Carlos Ferrero, the former world No 1 and the 2003 French Open Champion, is aiming to return to the world's top five.

Injuries hampered the Spaniard this season, who was ousted in the second round of the French Open and suffered a similar early exit at the US Open and has fallen to 26th place in the ATP champions race.

"I got chickenpox and suffered rib injuries and had to rest for four months. It influenced my performance a lot this year," he said during a news conference yesterday at the on going China Open.

"However, it's all recovered now and I can play 90 per cent in the coming days."

"My target this year is to enter top five in the ATP ranking," said a confident Ferrero.

"The priority is to regain my confidence and I also need points to climb up in the ranking, so I came to the tournament and I have been adjusting my condition and I will do better in the coming games."

After a day of rain interrupted play, Ferrero proved his words with a victory in his first China Open singles match as he overpowered US qualifier Justin Gimelstob 6-4, 6-1 to reach the second round.

"I feel physically good today," Ferrero said. "Justin was serving well, and I am so happy to have a perfect start at the Open."

It seems that rain has fond associations with the China Open this time. The one hour and 35 minute match between Ferrero and Gimelstob was interrupted three times during the first set.

But that had little influence on Ferrero who dominated the match.

"It's not a big shock to tennis players," Ferrero said.

"But it is really a little bit embarrassing, especially when the match is delayed by showers two or three times a day."

(China Daily September 16, 2004)