Juan Carlos Ferrero

Juan Carlos Ferrero Donat is a Spanish former world No. 1 professional tennis player and 2003 French Open men's singles champion. In total, he spent 176 consecutive weeks in the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings. He was also runner-up at the 2002 French Open and 2003 US Open. His nickname was "Mosquito" due to his speed and slight physical build.

Ferrero retired from the game after the 2012 Valencia Open 500, returning for a brief doubles stint in 2017. He has since been a tennis coach to two-time ATP Finals champion and Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev, and to US Open and Wimbledon champion and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He also runs the highly regarded Ferrero Tennis Academy in Spain.

Ferrero, by nature of his personality, let his tennis do the talking, remaining intensely private and loyal to those he trusted. Determined to become a champion, working diligently to fine-tune his natural abilities – particularly on clay courts – in a disciplined yet understated manner, Ferrero never boasted about his greatness. Always charming, humble and stylish throughout his career, it wasn't in his nature to be a crowd-pleaser. His mother, Rosario, never approved of tennis players who were too exuberant. When she died in 1998, the 17-year-old became withdrawn and resolved to dedicate wholeheartedly to professional tennis in her honor. By example, he inspired a future generation of Spanish talent, including David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal.