Category Archives: Player Profiles

>Full Name: Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat

DOB: 12th February 1980

Height: 183cm

Weight: 73kg

Turned Pro: 1998

Highest Rank: 1

Current Rank: 16

Career Prize Money: $12, 770, 127

Website: www.equelite.com

Juan Carlos, one of three children, was born in Onteniente, Spain began playing tennis at age 7 under the guidance of his father, Eduardo, who still frequently travels with him today. Juan Carlos has often said that his inspiration for his career was the death of his mother, Rosario. His mother died of cancer when he was just 17.

He had a successful junior career, making the finals of Roland Garros Juniors event in 1998 where he lost to Fernando Gonzalez. He turned pro later that same year. In 1999 he won his first ATP title, in his fifth tournament as a professional, in Mallorca, Spain (home to Rafael Nadal and Carlos Moya). He was also named Newcomer of The Year in 1999.

By the end of 2000 Ferrero had entered the top 20. He had also debuted in the Davis Cup for Spain and played a significant role in their victory over Australia in the finals.

2003 saw Ferrero hit peak form with numerous semi final appearances in masters events in the lead up to Roland Garros. He then went on to win Roland Garros, his first and only Grand Slam. That year he also made the 4th round of Wimbledon and lost to Andy Roddick in the US Open final, but took with him the number 1 ranking. He didn’t maintain the rankin until the end of the year, despite good results, eventually falling to number three behind Roger Federer and Andy Roddick.

A run of injuries and illnesses began creating problems for Ferrero from 2004 starting with chicken pox. After he recovered from chicken pox he fell in training and injured his ribs and wrist which contributed to him failing to defend Roland Garros, losing in the second round to Igor Andreev.

Although healthier in 2005, Juan Carlos began to meet with a young man who would become the King Of Clay, Rafael Nadal, losing to him in a semi final in Beijing and a final in Barcelona. Ferrero was again to suffer defeat at the hands of Nadal on clay in Monte Carlo in 2008. Ferrero got his revenge against the then world number 2 at the 2008 Rome Masters, outplaying Nadal, who was suffering from terribly blistered feet, on his favourite surface. Ferrero is now one of the very few men who can claim a victory against Nadal on clay.

After his victory over Nadal the rest of 2008 was a white wash for the ailing Spaniard. He withdrew from Roland Garros with and leg injury and from Wimbledon with a hamstring injury. A shoulder injury followed which kept him off the tour for 3 months.He finished 2008 ranked 55.

Mid 2009 a stronger Juan Carlos Ferrero made his way on to the circuit making the quarterfinals of Wimbledon and the 4th round of the US Open where he lost to eventual champion Juan Martin del Potro. Ferrero was once again a force on the tour, ending the year at 23 in the world. He also contributed to the wins Spain enjoyed in the early rounds of Davis Cup when Nadal was unable to compete due to injury. Spain went on to win the Davis Cup that year, however, Ferrero did not play in the finals.

2010 was another poor start for the Spaniard who injured his ankle in the first tournament in Aukland, New Zealand and then failed to impress at the Australian Open. Since then he has won 2 consecutive tournaments (Buenos Aires and Brazil) and is looking to win a 3rd in Acapulco where he plays a semi final match tonight (Australian time).

To date Ferrero has won 14 tournaments.

He also owns a Hotel which he refurbished into luxury suits and renamed Hotel Ferrero.