Sport | Tennis
Ferreira wants to be an inspiration to kids across the world
Former top South African player tennis Wayne Ferreira wants to be an inspiration to kids around the world, but was not interested in overseeing the sport in his country.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:30 November 21, 2008
Dubai: Former top South African player tennis Wayne Ferreira wants to be an inspiration to kids around the world, but was not interested in overseeing the sport in his country.
"The aim is always to try and inspire kids by playing and participating in such events around the world," said Ferreira.
He was competing in the The Legends Rock Dubai event but lost to Swede Anders Jarryd in the first round.
"But I have had enough with South Africa and I will not go back there.
"I think I tried and put in a good effort, but it was not really worth it," said Ferreira.
Ferreira, who was a win at the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open in 1995 beating Italian Andrea Gaudenzi in the final, is now a resident of Lafayette, California.
He has always been a critic of the state of the game back home, more so after he and countrywoman Amanda Coetzer decided to quit tennis.
Ferreira offered to help the South African Tennis Association (SATA), but said he found the sport in the country of his birth was suffering from a lack of money and exposure and could take decades to build-up.
Junior ranking
As a youngster, Ferreira was ranked the world's No 1 junior doubles player and No 6 junior singles player.
He won the junior doubles title at the US Open in 1989, the same year he turned professional.
During his career, Ferreira won 15 singles and 11 doubles titles earning career prize money of more than $9 million.
In his match against Jarryd, the South African started off well taking the opening set on a stroll 6-1 in under 30 minutes.
But his Swedish opponent came right back and reversed the scores to level with a 6-1 win. Jarryd went on to take the tie-break.
"I think I caught him by surprise there," the 47-year-old Jarryd said.
"At first I was not playing well and he was playing well. But later I started getting better and that is how I could draw level with him."
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