AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2003

Juan Carlos Ferrero

MODERATOR: Questions for Juan Carlos.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yeah, of course. Today I think I start very, very strong. You know, I put all the winners on lines, you know, and I break him - his serve - very soon. I think I play a really, really solid match. Not in any moment I start to do mistakes and I start to serve bad, so I think I play a complete match.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course, I'm progressing. You know, I'm in the second week. I'm in the quarterfinals. First time that I'm here in the quarterfinals. So I'm feeling so good. You know, physically I start to improve my leg. Today I didn't feel pain, so I'm really happy for that. Is more important physically I'm really well and I improving for the next match. I'm in the quarterfinals. I'm seeing in the next match against Ferreira or Sargsian. We'll see what happens in the next match. If I play like today or the other days, I think I have also chances to win.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I know is the first time I'm in quarterfinals out to the Roland Garros. But I think I play also good in clay court and also good in hard court. Only I knew it, that I have to play and improving. Of course, is coming the results. You see in that moment is coming the results. I'm going to try to give my best in the next and also the US Open in the States, because also in hard court. We'll see what happens. But I know that I can play very good, like here.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, because it's like the same. It's like the same. Maybe it's a little faster or a little slower, but it's like the same. So is not depend of the surface; it depend of me. In Sydney last week, two weeks ago, was faster than here, and I play final. I don't care is a little bit faster than here. It's okay for me.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The people is telling this?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: No, no, no, I don't feel. I just play one more match on center court. I feel very good in the Vodafone court. I play like all my matches there. You know, I'm going to see. When I play in the center court, I didn't feel faster that the other ones.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes, one match, the second match. And I play really good, so I didn't feel faster.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Some matches. I watch Sargsian-Philippoussis, Hewitt just one set yesterday, some Spanish guys I was watching. Not so much. The day off is to be relax.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Hewitt is playing his line. I think he didn't do mistakes. He's very motivated because he's playing in his house. He's playing really good. We have to see in the next round against Younes El Aynaoui. Younes El Aynaoui is a really good, experienced guy. Always he wins to El Aynaoui, but in four, fifth sets. Is not going to be easy for him, I think.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't think so. I don't think so. I don't think so. I know that Agassi and Hewitt won very easy. Also me, I won very easy today. But I think there is no favorite here in Australia right now.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Why? Because the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, there is no difference between us. I think I will play at the same level when we play good. There is no more the difference. It's my opinion.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: The abductor was the injury.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: In the leg here. But is improving, is okay now.

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I take antiinflammatories, massage, ultrasound. Is not so important.