Players Under the Microscope / Simon Mundie / 13 April 2010 / 1

Back in 2003 Juan Carlos Ferrero was to clay court tennis what Rafael Nadal has been for the past five years - virtually unbeatable. Simon Mundie looks at where it all went wrong and how he looks like being back to something like his best.

Juan Carlos Ferrero's Monte Carlo campaign got off to a flying start yesterday with a resounding 6-0, 6-3 win over Marcel Granollers in just 70 minutes. It bodes well for the next few weeks, where the Spaniard nicknamed 'the mosquito' has a genuine chance to enjoy an Indian summer and recapture some of the early glory days of his career. For a few short years in the early noughties, the speedy Spaniard was the king of clay, before the era of Nadal. It seemed like he might dominate at Roland Garros and elsewhere, but once he had won that solitary Grand Slam title in Paris in 2003 his game suffered. Seven years after that victory, Ferrero ([42] to win in Monte Carlo) once more has the chance to show that his was always a special clay court talent.

Ferrero reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros at his first attempt in 2000, sweeping past the likes of Mark Philippoussis and Alex Corretja, before bowing out to eventual champion Gustavo Kuerten. The two standout aspects of his game were his speed, hence the nickname 'The mosquito', and his forehand. The way he hit the ball off that wing was fresh and new, achieving superb spin and power in equal measure.

The following year, Ferrero once again reached the last four at the French Open; he also won his first Masters Series crown in Rome to mark himself out as the best young clay courter in the world. He ended that year ranked no.5, with the promise of greater things ahead.

In 2002, he again improved, reaching the final in Paris. Favourite to win the title, he came unstuck against Albert Costa, unable to reproduce the clay court form of his previous matches. Twelve months later and Ferrero was in the final again against the unheralded Dutchman Martin Verkerk. This time Ferrero made no mistake, romping to the title in straight sets. He also reached the US Open final the same year, as well as scaling the summit of the world rankings for a short period.

From there, it was all pretty much downhill for Ferrero. He reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2004 but soon after contracted chicken pox, ruining the rest of his season. He lost in the second round at the French Open to Igor Andreev, and barely won another match for the rest of the year. By the time he returned to his beloved clay in 2005, Rafael Nadal ([1.65] to win in Monte Carlo) was the new king of the surface, and Ferrero's speed and forehand suddenly didn't look so impressive any more. Nadal was quicker, stronger and hit with more spin. All of a sudden Ferrero's forehand was the norm rather than the exception.

Playing second fiddle to Nadal didn't sit comfortably on Ferrero's shoulders. It knocked his ego, and affected his confidence. That, along with injury, illness problems and an ill advised change of racket brand all contributed to his slip down the rankings. He never threatened to crack the top 10 again after 2004, and last year slipped as low as 115 in the world.

This season Ferrero has rediscovered some of his old form. The thirty year old has won two titles on clay, beating dirtballers like David Ferrer ([36.0] to win in Monte Carlo) and Juan Monaco ([200.0]) on the way. His forehand has rediscovered some of its old power and penetration and his confidence is high. He is playing with an upgrade of the Prince racket frame that he wielded when he was at his peak seven years ago, and looks like he is enjoying the competition again, something missing from his game for years.

Fortunately for him, his mini-resurgence has coincided with a period when there aren't a huge amount of in-form clay courters. Of course Rafael Nadal is still the man to beat, but the pressure is on him to prove that his own dip in form isn't terminal. Federer and Djokovic are struggling somewhat, and there aren't many other names that spring to mind as genuine contenders at Monte Carlo and beyond. Ferrero has won at all the big clay court venues, and if he can remember what it took to dominate on the surface seven years ago, he could rediscover some of the old magic. In the process surprising a few people who had written him off for good. Definitely one to watch over the next couple of months...

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(1)

1. JC Fan | 14 April 2010

   Juan Carlos is my most favorite player of all times - Go Juan Carlos! This is a dream come true - a dream of the last 7 years - we'll never give up, we believe in you forever! Go! Never give up!

:

:

:

?

: