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)