TMS - MADRID

October 18, 2003

Juan Carlos Ferrero

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I know him very good. I think he was playing good also the first set. But I think I was serving pretty good, you know. I get only one break with his serve. You know, that is 6-4. In indoor courts, everything is passing very quickly, you know. We play a good match. In the third set, I think was the same as the first set: one break, that's it.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It means that I'm working pretty good. This year I played a lot of matches. I won a lot of matches - indoor courts, clay courts, hard courts, grass courts. It means that I'm playing very good in all surface.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, maybe I have worked a little bit more, that's true, on these types of surfaces. But know I have trained. I have an indoor court in my training place. So now I have it easier playing on this type of surface. It's true that they can have it easier to play on fast courts because they are in Switzerland and all. But I've proved I can do it, too.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think his tennis has been very consistent, without many unforced errors. Besides, he's very fit physically, and has good stamina. It's true that he hits the ball very well. I think I'll be able to put up with it.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, that's very important, to serve well on these types of courts. Especially Madrid, it has a lot of advantage here, it's important to serve well. Especially during the second and third set, I served really well. The truth is that if you play well the first serve, you have the initiative, then it's difficult for him to win the point.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I wish it were true. That's every player's dream, to become No. 1 in the ranking, the entry list and the race. That's a dream. I hope to win tomorrow and become a double No. 1.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No. He told me Spain is doing very good. He told me to keep on.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It's a little bit of everything. Paella also helps. But seriously, I think it's work. I've worked hard throughout the year, from beginning to the end. Results do come after such an effort. One feels good then when everything goes as it should.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think all that is part of being a tennis player. But I have to concentrate also on my game. Those things, in fact, are there to help me, I guess. They shouldn't be made unwillingly, in fact. But I've tried to plan it in order for me to have time to train and for me to do both things at the same time, inside and outside the courts.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't really know. I'm happy with what I do. I guess No. 1 in rock would also feel well, great. I don't know.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It's true I didn't agree with the ruling. After that, I played worse. But these type of matches that are so equal are like this. I've had two very good moments. 5-4, that last moment, that was a little worse. But in the second set, things happen like this.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It would be a very important tournament for me. It would be my first indoor victory, fast court, Masters Series. It would define me as a player that can win on any type of surface. So tomorrow could be a very important victory. But I don't know where to place it among my triumphs. It would be one of the most important, that's for sure.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think it's going to be long because it's five sets. It's going to be long. He's playing very well from the baseline. I think it will be tough.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, you can, but it's very difficult. Let's start by tomorrow, tomorrow's final, then we'll have Paris, Houston. I'd like to be in the final of both tournaments, of course, especially Houston, which is a nice tournament. Also Paris, I'd like to do well because it's a beautiful tournament. Let's see what happens and hope it goes well.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Sometimes victories like the one today or the one against Srichaphan the other day, sometimes these types of victories are more important than the No. 1. In fact, I've tried to forget the top place during every match and think only about the match. Today I just tried to defeat one of the best players of the indoor courts, Federer. That was my goal today. It was an important match today for me because I proved to myself that I can defeat one of the best players indoors.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I wish them luck, I guess to any Spaniard.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: To a journalist, you would give a whole evening. Now you're giving me a second. What can I say? I don't know. I have no idea. I don't know.