Juan Carlos Ferrero is through to the fourth round of the US Open for the first time since his run through to the final in 2003 (l. to Roddick). The Spaniard advanced Sunday in New York at the expense of ninth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, who was forced to retire with a right leg injury with Ferrero leading 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5), 1-0.
Former World No. 1 Ferrero has staged a mighty resurgence into the upper echelons of the ATP World Tour in 2009, highlighted by ending a six-year title drought in Casablanca (d. Serra), and has now reached the fourth round at two Grand Slams in the same year for the first time since his career-best season in 2003.
The Villena resident, who was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon two months ago (l. to Murray), peaked at No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings on 8 September 2003 – the same year he won his first major title at Roland Garros (d. Verkerk) and finished runner-up to Andy Roddick at Flushing Meadows. He dropped to No. 115 on 6 April this year – his lowest ranking in 10 years – but has since recovered his position to No. 25.
“Physically I'm completely different,” said Ferrero, in attributing his success this season. “I'm feeling great on the court, so I can play a lot of rallies as long as it is. I recovered well after matches, so that's the big difference in maybe couple of years.”
Despite a slow start for Ferrero in the first match of the day on the Louis Armstrong Stadium, the Spaniard had hit back well to take a two-set-to-one lead over Simon – who sustained his injury in the latter stages of the third set. Ferrero had broken to lead 1-0 in the fourth set when Simon was forced to concede defeat. The Frenchman has also performed well in Grand Slam competition in 2009, reaching his first quarter-final at the Australian Open (l. to Nadal) and the fourth round for the first time at Wimbledon, where he also fell victim to Ferrero.
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