Juan Carlos Ferrero was short of the US Open -Final of 2003, but he received the Ultimate Consolation Prize a day later: his debut at number 1 in the PIF ATP ranking. The Spaniard rose to the height of the men’s game on 8 September 2003, but he started to lay the foundation for that milestone the previous season.
Behind a run to the final at the ATP Masters Cup 2002, now the Nitto ATP Finals, Ferrero finished that year at World No. 4. He fell a set of the trophy during the season finale in Shanghai (l. To Hewitt), but won four singles crowns in a Breakthrough 2023 campaign.
Ferrero lifted his only Grand Slam title that season at Roland Garros and also triumphed the ATP Masters 1000S Monte-Carlo and Madrid. While he initially had difficulty supporting his French open success, he came up with the US Open – where never had been past the fourth round – to earn his status as World No. 1.
In a fighting run to the New York final, Ferrero has only resulted in one straight sets in six wins. A quarter-final victory of four set against the US Open Champ Lleyton from 2001 has set up a semi-final showdown with World No. 1 Andre Agassi, a selection framework that doubled like a shootout for the first place in the PIF ATP ranking.
With his 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory against the home favorite, Ferrero would be guaranteed to leave New York as the new No. 1.
“I worked a lot for this number 1,” said the Spaniard, who played four games in four days to close our open campaign by rain. “I am really happy to no. 1.”
During his eight weeks at the peak, Ferrero fulfilled his invoicing as the best of the game by winning the title of Madrid. His run was eventually ended by Roddick, who made his number 1 debut in November.
More information about the ATP No. 1 club
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