TMS - MADRID

October 15, 2003

Juan Carlos Ferrero

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Spanish for Juan Carlos.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, like everyone, I think. I only had won one game . Especially with 40-30 for him. It was incredible. I tried my best from the beginning. Sometimes it was the best, sometimes it was a little bit weaker. But I think the crowd was there with me, especially in the bad moments. That was very important for me. They have supported me a lot.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, I don't think so. This was like the Davis Cup because the crowd was with me completely. I thank them a lot.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no. I only said that I might not be going to Australia. I said this in Bangkok. That was probably one out of one million chance. I don't know why people think I'm not going to go to Australia. There are many points that I risk, so it all depends.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes. It's the end of the season. I have an injury, a small injury in my foot. But I can still play. I have decided to change my bandage at the end in order to be more comfortable.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Incredible, you tell us that. Really, I don't know. I think our results prove that this question should not be asked. The one on the screen has made a final (Moya), Alex Corretja, too.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Why? I think people haven't talked during the points. I think the crowd was really supporting me. That's just a thing he has to understand. If he were in his country, people would do the same, I guess. But I think during the points, during the game, no one has annoyed him, has disturbed him.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I guess if you play a match before, you get a bit more prepared. But a bye is also an advantage. It has advantages and disadvantages. You have to accept it.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No. I'd rather not talk about this in a tournament because I think it doesn't help. The captains are facing a very difficult decision. If I think it's a good decision, I'm being not very polite towards Albert. If I do the opposite, it can provoke an influence. I think it's better for them to make a decision and we can all talk about it afterwards.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Pain only comes from time to time if I'm forcing my foot to extremes. It's a matter of the blood not flowing very well in my foot. But I'm almost perfectly healthy. I'm still feeling a bit unstable anyway. I can play almost a hundred percent. I'm working to improve my situation.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I saw him nervous with his double-fault. It wasn't quite normal for him. I knew he was nervous because it hit the net. I tried to break his serve no matter what happened, and then keep fighting. It wasn't really clear I could win, I could beat him. That's never to be taken for granted.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, if I lose, I lose the No. 1 in the ranking. I cannot be obsessed with that idea. Everyone has lost No. 1 at one stage of their career. People that are behind me are also strong, so it's difficult to keep on the top forever. I try hard every day to stay there. But today wasn't pressure. It wasn't a matter of not having a good day. I'm not adapted to a fast court like this. I hope tomorrow I'm going to be better, play a more complete match.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Well, it's always nice to have all the Real Madrid players there. But I don't know what to say. Well, yeah, it was nice to see them. The same I went to see their training yesterday. So it's good.