Spain's
Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world number one who won the French
Open in 2003 but whose career has been hampered by injuries, will
retire after playing at his home event next month.
The
Valencia Open 500 will be my final tournament, in the best possible
scenario," Ferrero told a news conference presenting the ATP
event.
"This
season injuries have prevented me from playing with regularity and it
was a tough year as I realised on the court that I did not have the
same ambition after 14 years at the top level," added the
32-year-old.
"I
am starting a new phase in my life with tremendous excitement, I will
continue to be involved with tennis through the Valencia Open, the
academy, the foundation that carries my name and other projects."
Ferrero,
who has slipped to 111 in the latest singles rankings, turned
professional in 1998 and went on to win 15 titles, including the
Masters events in Monte Carlo and Rome.
As
well as his Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, he reached the final
there in 2002 and the U.S. Open final in 2003, after which he rose to
number one and stayed there for eight weeks. His last title came in
Stuttgart in 2011 on his favoured clay.
Ferrero
played in 17 Davis Cup ties for Spain, compiling an 18-6 record in
singles rubbers, and helped the Iberian nation to their first triumph
in the competition in 2000 and subsequent victories in 2004 and 2009.
"Among
the memories I would pick out the Davis Cup win in 2000, because I
understood afterwards how much it meant to the country," said
Ferrero, who clinched the trophy by beating Australian Lleyton Hewitt
in the fourth singles rubber.
"But
certainly for a player winning a grand slam or getting to number one
in the world is the most important," he added.
"What
I will miss most is the competition, it will difficult to fill the
void."
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