Ferrero will play Australian Open
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Ferrero plans to travel Down Under.
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SYDNEY, Australia -- French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero will launch his season in Australia in January, and has set his sights on an Olympic medal in Athens next August.
The Spaniard said in September he was considering missing the Australian Open after a hectic end to 2003, including defeat by Australia in the Davis Cup final in Melbourne.
But Ferrero now intends to venture Down Under once again for January's Sydney International, followed by the Open.
"I have to defend a lot of ranking points in Australia, in Sydney and Melbourne, so I have to progress to play at the same level as this year because I played very well."
Ferrero had his best Australian Open result this year, reaching the quarterfinals.
Ferrero also said he intended to compete at the Athens Games, even though the U.S. Open begins a week later in New York.
Australian former world number one has already pulled out of the Olympics to focus on preparations for the year's final Grand Slam.
"I want to play in the tennis because in four more years I will be 28 years old," said Ferrero.
"I think next year I have the opportunity to win a medal."
