Ferrero's glorious career ends in damp squib

VALENCIA, Spain (AFP) –

Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero gives the thumbs up as he says farewell during the Open 500 Valencia at the Agora Stadium in Valencia. Ferrero’s stellar career ended on a flat note here on Tuesday as he exited in the first round of the Valencia Open beaten 7-5, 6-3 by compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Spanish former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero’s stellar career ended on a flat note here on Tuesday as he exited in the first round of the Valencia Open beaten 7-5, 6-3 by compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Ferrero, 32 and winner of 16 singles titles including the 2003 French Open, was very emotional as he addressed the spectators for the final time.

“Thank you so much for having come to watch my final match and for all the support you gave me during my career,” said the player known as ‘the mosquito’.

Ferrero, who also reached the 2002 French Open final and 2003 US Open final, had announced in mid-September during the Davis Cup semi-final with the United States that this would be his final tournament in his home region.

Ferrero enjoyed some of his finest moments in the Davis Cup, being part of the team that sealed their first ever win in the competition in 2000 against Australia in the final and he was a winner again in 2004 when they beat the United States.