Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat

Born: February 12, 1980 in Ontinyent (Valencia)
Height: 1.82 m
Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand)

When J.C.Ferrero first appeared on the ATP tour at the end of the last century, I remember being surprised by the buzz around him. Someone, somewhere – whether I read it or heard it – wrote/said that he was part of a group of talented youngsters born in the early 80s, and he would soon become the best in the world. That comment stuck with me because I didn’t see anything special in his game, either technically or in his on-court behaviour, which was reserved, rather dispassionate…
Ferrero’s introduction to the ATP circuit was explosive. In his debut tournament in Casablanca ’99, he reached the semifinals as a qualifier, riding a 24-match winning streak (five in Morocco, including qualifying… after 19 consecutive victories on the Satellite circuit). He soon claimed his first Challenger title (Napoli) and made a deep run at the ATP event in Barcelona, where he took Carlos Moyá – then one of the world’s top players – to a dramatic third round contest, the first of many thrillers between them.
From 2000 to 2003, Ferrero dominated the clay courts. He reached two successive French Open semifinals (2000 and 2001), both times losing to Gustavo Kuerten, but won more matches on clay than anyone else in those four years, claiming titles in Monte Carlo (2002, 2003) and Rome (2001) as well as leading the Spanish team to the first Davis Cup trophy. In 2002, he made the third all-Spanish French Open final but lost in an unusual match against five years older Albert Costa. Twelve months later, however, Ferrero triumphed in Paris, defeating surprise finalist Martin Verkerk and sealing the win with his trademark shot – a blistering forehand from the middle of the court. His friends called him “Mosquito” due to his speed and stinging forehands, which he could unleash from any angle.
Ferrero’s backhand was super solid, his volley technique impeccable, and his serve improved as he bulked up, all of which helped him reach the pinnacle of the sport. The best period of his career (lasting roughly 15 months) began with the Masters ’02 final. After his French Open ’03 triumph, Ferrero found himself in the elite company of Andy Roddick and Roger Federer, battling for the top spot in the rankings. At the US Open ’03 and a few months later in Madrid, Aussie Open ’04 too, he proved that it would be unfair to call him a “clay court player” because he achieved quite impressive results on hard courts.
What separated Ferrero from older clay-court specialists from Spain, who played in the same era, like Àlex Corretja, A.Costa, and Félix Mantilla (all three used to play one-handed backhands), was his ability to win tight, dramatic matches on a regular basis. Before losing the Rotterdam final in February 2004, Ferrero had won three consecutive matches in deciding tie-breaks. By that point, he had already survived 10 match point-down matches in over 100 main-level events, an extraordinary stat that underscored his endurance as well as the capability to play his best tennis when it mattered the most.
However, after Rotterdam, things began to unravel. In Marseille, Ferrero shockingly lost to French journeyman of offensive attitude, Gregory Carraz, and soon after, he contracted a highly contagious disease. “I found out yesterday I had the chickenpox,” Ferrero said after withdrawing from Indian Wells and Miami ’04. “Sometimes things happen, and you can’t do anything about it. I’m disappointed because I was looking forward to playing here in the States.” Later on that season he injured his ribs and right wrist.
The illness and injuries weakened his body, and though he returned to the clay-court swing in 2004 skipping just Barcelona and Rome, he never fully regained the confidence that had once made him one of the most feared players in the world. By the end of 2003, Ferrero was ranked No. 3, having briefly held the No. 1 spot after winning the US Open semifinal, where he showed he would claim at least one title in Melbourne and New York. But by the end of 2004, he had fallen to No. 31.
…and this is what I mentioned at the beginning of this bio – I perceived the young Ferrero as someone who would achieve as much as he ultimately did in the years 2004-2012. In those years he played just one ‘Masters 1K’ final (Cincinnati ’06) and two major quarterfinals, ironically at Wimbledon, on a surface that seemed to be his weakest during his peak years… Ferrero currently coaches Carlos Alcaraz, he actually created him, and he may achieve everything with his pupil that he could have expected to achieve himself if chickenpox hadn’t struck him in that unlucky year of 2004.

Career record: 479–262 [ 268 events ]
Career titles: 16
Highest ranking: No. 1
Best GS results:
Australian Open (semifinal 2004; quarterfinal 2003)
Roland Garros (champion 2003; runner-up 2002; semifinal 2000-01)
Wimbledon (quarterfinal 2007, 09)
US Open (runner-up 2003)
Davis Cup champion 2000 and 2004 (played only doubles in the final)