Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic. Photo by Ben Rothenberg, via The Daily Forehand's Picasa Page

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Juan Carlos Ferrero, former #1 and 2003 French Open champion is still a force to be reckoned with for the top levels of the ATP Tour.  He made the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in July,  and has now made his way back into the top 25.  Ferrero was the hero for Spain in their Davis Cup quarterfinal vs. Germany, winning the decisive fifth rubber in straight sets over Andreas Beck.

I talked to JCF briefly at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington a few weeks ago, where he made the third round, thrashing countryman Tommy Robredo before falling to Tommy Haas.  It was an impressive showing for Ferrero, who had just days before had played a clay court event in Croatia, where he lost in the final to Nikolay Davydenko.

TDF: When you decide to play clay events after Wimbledon, do you think that hurts your chances at the US Open?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: No, no.  Of course not.  It’s been a long time that we’ve been playing two or three clay tournaments after Wimbledon, and then hard after that.  We’re all used to it.

TDF: You’ve won a lot of tournaments in your career, but you’ve never won a tournament in the United States.  Why do you think that is?

Juan Carlos Ferrero:  Well, I’ve made a couple finals.  I’ve been playing in finals, so I’ve had the chance to win.  I’m trying, I keep trying.

TDF: Do you think you can still win another grand slam?

Juan Carlos Ferrero: I think so.  Yeah, sure.

TDF: Do you think if Nadal is still out for the next Davis Cup tie, you should be one of the singles players for Spain? You were big for helping them win over Germany, you and Verdasco.

Juan Carlos Ferrero: I would love to.  But I know it will be very difficult to be on the team again, with Rafa and David Ferrer will be there.  I think it’s going to be challenging.

And Feliciano [Lopez] is going, so they have three players already.  And Verdasco, potentially.  There are a few times that you have a chance to make a great personal attempt to play for Spain.  I would love to play every single Davis Cup match.  With how I’ve been playing the last couple weeks, I would love to play against Israel.