10 things about Martin and Juan Carlos Saturday, June 7, 2003 10 Things About Martin Verkerk... He enjoys watching Formula 1 racing. He admired Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and countryman Richard Krajicek while growing up. He has a New Zealand coach ¨C Nick Carr. Prior to this event, his most memorable moment was playing Andy Roddick in the first round of the 2002 US Open on Arthur Ashe Stadium. In 1996 he was ranked No680; in 1998 he was No422; in 2000 he was No230; and at the end of 2002 he was No86. He began playing tennis at age seven with his father Wim and mother Bep, who is a retired school teacher. If he wins on Sunday, he will be the sixth player in the history of the tournament since 1925, to win the men's singles by saving at least one matchpoint along the way. (He saved three match points against Luis Horna in the first round). He is the first Dutchman to reach the Roland-Garros final. He doesn't like being compared to Richard Krajicek, because he doesn't have the same results yet. He likes to celebrate winning points by pumping his fists and staring up into the stands where his coach and entourage are sitting. His Best Quotes This Tournamentˇ­ "No I'm already for two years ¨C actually one and half years making good progression. Those years before, I was not competing the way I am now, not practising the way I am now. Actually being pretty lazy about my sport." - when asked where he had been for 24 years. "But now at the end, I'm really happy that I enjoyed my time from 18 'til 21, actually because I've seen everything that a young guy should have seen, you know? You sometimes need to have some fun to be later more professional." - on whether people had told him he was wasting his 'gift' by not applying himself to tennis. "Then you win, and the moment that I won, you justˇ­I just fall down because I think to be in the quarter final in Roland-Garros, when you come actually out of somewhere that nobody expected it, everybody was like 'Yeah, but he's talented, but he's lazyˇ­he's not a competitor, he doesn't want to win, he's not mentally strong.' I mean I think I showed enough now to let everybody see also- and also myself." - when asked if this was his best tennis moment. "Well I'm not screaming, I just put the fist, and I think that's how bad I really want it. And I want to be the best player I can be, and I need it. I think today I was unbelievable quiet, I can be much more exciting. I had a few times the fists, and of course you fall down like you won maybe the tournament, but I don't care what people think what I did ¨C I'm in the quarter finals and I'm happy with how I did it." - on whether his regular fist-pumping was too much or part of his personality. "I had in a Rome, there was a girl I was with three and a half years. She still come to watch me because she's still really important for me and she still supports me. We're great friends." - talking about how his former girlfriend (who is here) told him to get his act together and commit himself to tennis. "If you had said one year ago to me 'You gonna play Carlos Moya at Roland-Garros quarter final and beat him.' I was gonna say 'Okay let's take a lot of beers and then I'll probably believe you.'" - on how his game has turned around in a year. "Yeah it's ugly (laughs)ˇ­I saw in the paper also sometimes the pictures. But I'm not here to be beautiful. I mean I'm here to winˇ­Outside the court I try to dress up well and look a little better." - on what he looks like when he's competing (mouth wide open, fists pumping etc) 10 Things About Juan Carlos Ferrero... He began playing tennis at age seven with his father, Eduardo, who often travels with his son. He has two sisters, Ana and Laura. His nicknames are "Mosquito," due to his speed and small physique and "Chavalito," which means "little kid". As a youngster, he admired play of former No1 and two-time Roland-Garros champion Jim Courier. He likes to collect motor bikes and cars (his favorite is a Renault Spider). He is a fan of Real Madrid soccer team. He draws his tennis inspiration from his mother, Rosario, who passed away when he was 17. In 2001, he opened his own tennis school, "Equalite J.C. Ferrero" in his hometown of Villena, Alicante, to promote future tennis talents between ages 14 and 21. He is a friend of countryman and pro golfer Sergio Garcia. His career-record on clay is 119-72 and his record at Roland-Garros is 21-3. His Best Quotes This Tournamentˇ­ "Yeah. You know, when I sit in the chair and I see the score, two sets up, you know, I think a little bit." - on whether he was concerned that Albert Costa may stage yet another comeback on Friday. "I'm not really obsessed by this. This is one more match. I have to be strong in order to try to win. If I don't, well, bad luck. What can I do about it? If I don't win, well, I just don't win." - on his second appearance in the Roland-Garros final (and fourth consecutive semi final). "I was here when I was 12 years old. I've always wanted to win here. It's one of my dreams, my ambitions. It's not an obsession as such, but it is one of my goals and one of my aspirations." - on whether Roland-Garros is his greatest ambition. "Yes, it is, but I have to be able to win over a giant and a very good player in order to do it." - on whether he can win the tournament. "And also, I wanted to win because today was - is the happy birthday of my sister, and I want to win. So all these things are give me a lot of emotions, you know." - after his emotional five set victory over Fernando Gonzalez. "Well, he said he was hoping I would actually win the tournament because I was a good player and a nice person. I thanked him very much for those kind words, particularly coming from him." - what Gonzalez said to him after their match. "I placed myself on the baseline. I stayed there until the end." - his tactic against Felix Mantilla. "I'm very fit physically and mentally. I think that's the main advantage." - the difference between the 2002 and 2003 Juan Carlos. "You know, I feel frustrated because I lost the set against grass court specialist. No, I'm kidding (smiling)." - how he felt after losing the first set to Tim Henman. "No. I'm going to prepare just as I've done before. The fact is that I feel good, I'm doing all right. But I was placed on Court 2, which doesn't really mean that I'm looked at as if I were the favorite." - on whether he enjoys the fact that the press think he's the favorite this year. "Don't make me feel badly (smiling). I don't really know. I expected to win more and to suffer a bit more in order to win it." - on whether he has a bad conscience about winning so much money in just three quarters of an hour (opponent Nicolas Massu retired). "Well, I saw one of those people who foretell the future, and he said this time around it will be my turn (smiling). I hope this will be the case." - on whether he expected to be in the finals this year.