WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS

August 10, 2002

Juan Carlos Ferrero

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think he take away of the -- he has a very strong forehand and he put all the rhythm all the time with his forehand, you know, moving me all the time. I couldn't take his rhythm. You know, I think he hit the ball stronger than me today, and I think was the key of the match.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think one break in hardcourt is enough. Each set, I think Carlos break me in the first set. And the second, that's just one break is the match, you know, because the service here in the hardcourt, it's very important. And I think he serve a little bit stronger than me, like 122, 123 miles, and I serve all the time 118, 117. So, you know, sometimes you have to serve it stronger maybe.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Him?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: You know, I think he goes to the net more times than ever because I think he hit the ball very strong. And he has to -- he had the opportunity to go to the net to finish the point. That's the reasons.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm not surprise, you know. I couldn't do it and that's all. Today also I didn't return so good, you know. I think his second service, I didn't return very good like the other days. And also was the key because I return very short all the time and he takes his forehand and move me to the other side and take the point. So I think, you know, he plays better than me in other ways.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, I heard.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think he's playing now better than before because - I don't know - he's better physical and, you know, I think also very important mentally. He didn't say anything when he did the mistakes and, you know, he says, "Come on," when he does a good point, you know? And I think that's different than before. He always said something maybe when he did mistakes, you know? And right now I think he's with a lot of confidence.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I hope. This is good for tennis, you know. Some weeks is winning maybe Moya tomorrow, or the last week Canas. Not always Agassi, Sampras, Hewitt. It's good to take some change in the tennis.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Like always with Moya, I play with him a lot of times, and we thought that I had to play to his backhand all the time, you know, and to put pressure on to his backhand. In very important points, of course, to hit the ball for his backhand, you know. Because if I hit the ball for his forehand, it's very difficult to play with him. So all the time I have to play to his backhand. That's all.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know, but, you know... I couldn't play better than I did. So if I -- you know, when he hit the ball, it's very stronger to hit the ball like I want to hit, you know, because the ball is coming so fast. I couldn't hit the ball like I want.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't want to say so much. But for me, I think was good. I saw the ball in the middle of the line, but sometimes he says "out," he says "good."

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No. I come back to home ten days. Maybe I'm gonna take three or four days to relax then come back to practice to go to US Open.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I think when he feels the ball very good, I think he's very good forehand - and maybe the best. The fast, for sure. I don't know if the best, but the fast.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, of course. Of course. In clay court, he won always. On the hardcourt, sometimes he won three sets and two difficult sets for Hewitt. But who knows? But I think if he plays at the level of today, maybe he's gonna win. Because Hewitt, he has a good momentum, but Moya hit the ball very good.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I'm not gonna tell you who is the best. Because if not, I'm gonna lose friend (smiling). But I don't know. I think both players hit the ball very well. They play very good in all the surface, so I don't know.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Excuse me?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No. It's tough because I lose, but not play with him. I play with him seven times, so it's easy.