Quito
A special guest in Quito for the XII edition of the Tennis Master of the capital: the Spaniard David Ferrer, ATP ranking number 37, will face the Ecuadorian Nicolás Lapentti (retired) this Saturday at the Buena Vista Tennis Club on clay surface.
Dressed up for his first visit to Quito, Ferrer was introduced at noon on Friday by Luis Adrián Morejón, the organizer of the tournament, at the Sangay room in the Sheraton hotel. Both, Ferrer and Lapentti, are close friends.
For this fourth encounter with Lapentti, Ferrer told EL UNIVERSO that he will take precautions mainly because of Quito's altitude of 2,850 meters, being the Master's match his first experience in this geographical situation.
"I'm happy because I had never been in Quito nor in Ecuador, a country I didn't know. I will also have the opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands, which is one of the wonders, and above all to see good friends, Nicolás and Luis Adrián Morejón," said the three-time Davis Cup champion and member of the so-called 'Spanish Armada'."
Regarding the match he will play with Lapentti, whom he has faced three times before (Sao Paulo 2004 and twice in 2008 at Conde Godó), Ferrer hopes to adapt to the altitude because he will face a 41-year-old Lapentti who "is in very good shape".
"We are playing in his home and there is a lot of altitude. We'll see (if Lapentti gets his revenge). Hopefully, people will enjoy," added the 35-year-old right-hander.
The winner of 27 titles commented that during the week he has trained on clay courts and he assured that the participation of his compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero in previous editions of the Quito Master motivated him to participate in the XII edition of the capital's tournament. But he confesses that visiting Quito excited him, especially because the tennis circuit entered the off-season.
Although it is already the off-season, as he pronounces it, the Spaniard states that he is physically well, without any kind of problem.
After the press conference, Lapentti and Ferrer attended a cocktail party at a clothing store at Quicentro Shopping mall, where they walked on foot while pedestrians looked in amazement at a 'Top' tennis player calmly walking through the center of Quito.