Ferrero Boasts Sizzling 14-1 Clay Record
Fernando Vicente and Christophe Rochus meet in the other semifinal.
Juan Carlos Ferrero continues to bolster his reputation as the most feared
player on clay this season, improving his clay record to 15-1. On Friday,
the Spaniard defeated Agustin Calleri 6-3, 6-4 at the CAM Open Comunidad
Valencianato to advance to his fourth ATP semifinal of the year. Ferrero
began his season on clay at the Tennis Masters Monte-Carlo, where he captured
the title. A week later, he stormed through the semifinals in Barcelona. And
this week, he's now two matches away from claiming his eighth career title
in his home country. Ferrero now meets Flavio Saretta of Brazil, who upset
No. 4 seed Gaston Gaudio 3-6, 7-6(3) 6-3.
Belgium's Christophe Rochus advanced to his first ATP semifinal of the year
with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Armenia's Sargis Sargsian. Rochus attributes his
form in Valencia to weeks of practice that have finally manifested in good
results. Fernando Vicente also reached the final four with a solid 6-3, 6-4
victory over Nicolas Massu.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Ferrero: "It was a well fought match. There were many breaks of serve and
some long exchanges. I was able to put some big serves in and, to be honest,
I was playing well. I have now reached at least the semifinals for three
consecutive weeks and all I can think about is the title."
"Mentally, I am feeling very strong. Maybe there are patches when the level
of my tennis drops, but my game is there."
On his next opponent:
"Gaudio is always a tough competitor. He was on the verge of beating me in
Monte-Carlo. As for Saretta, I have only seen him practicing. He hits the
ball hard."
Calleri: "I knew it was going to be difficult. Ferrero is the best player
in the world right now on clay. I felt I played well from the baseline. If
I would have made more first serves, the outcome could have been different.
Off my second serve, he was attacking me and taking the initiative. If
Ferrero maintains his current form, he should definitely win the tournament."
"I felt very welcome here at this tournament and in Spain. My grandmother is
actually from Valencia."喔喔，這位也是瓦倫西亞血統 :P
"From here, I am going to Rome. I will be playing with a lot of confidence
and I expect to get very far. It depends largely on the draw. I could meet
a Ferrero in the first round or two."
Rochus: "I've been practicing really well over the last weeks, but haven't
been able to convert that form to the matches. Recently, I have lost several
close matches, which affected my confidence. Having worked very hard with my
coach, everything has fallen into place now. I've had a preferable draw here
and been able to take good advantage of it. Reaching the semifinals has built
up my confidence."
"I'm playing well. The courts are fast, which suits my game. I can keep the
ball flat. My match strategy is to play with intensity and to be constantly
aggressive against my opponent."
On playing Vicente:
"It's going to be a good match. We have met twice in our careers. I have
beaten him and he has beaten me. I'm expecting it to be close."
Vicente: "I played against Massu only a few weeks ago and I knew what to do
to beat him again. I played more intelligently than he did, bringing the ball
to his backhand, his weakest stroke. I also brought him in by keeping the
balls short. He's a player that strives from the baseline."
"It means so much to me to be playing well here in Valencia."
On his next opponent:
"It's going to be tough. Both Sargsian and Rochus have always beaten me at
ATP level. The courts are very fast here, which suits their game more than
mine. I am still going to go out there and give it my best shot."
Massu: "I found it very hard to keep my concentration in today's match.
My mind just wasn't there. I made so many elementary mistakes and faults.
The match was going quickly. I began to pick up my game but it was too late."
"I wasn't able to put pressure on his serve at all today. I didn't create a
break point in the whole match. Mentally, the match was killing me today."
Gaudio: "I had my chances in the second set to win the match, but I couldn't
take them. Saretta starting playing much better. It was a close match and the
better player deserved to win. I will take a lot from this tournament."
Saretta: "It was a very important victory for me because it was against one
of the best players on clay. I played the tie-break very well and from there
I found my confidence. In the third set, he tried to break my rhythm by
stalling and talking to me, but I was too focused. I was having to fight
hard for each game."
On playing Ferrero
"Today I beat Gaudio, a better player than me, and Ferrero is even superior,
but I will be playing with great confidence from today's match. I have
nothing to lose and everything to win."
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