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While many players grow up wanting to be like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Rafael Nadal, 22 year old Pedro Martinez Portero says he always wanted to be like former World No. 3 David Ferrer, who he considers to be the best human being on the planet.
In an interview to Yosoynoticia, Portero, who won his first main draw match at a Grand Slam at the Australian Open this year, says, "I always wanted to be like David Ferrer, he is the best of humans." Speaking about his good run of form this year which also saw him win matches in Cordoba and Buenos Aires, Portero says, "Tennis is a very streaky sport, there are people who win matches very often and then have bad times.
When so, you have to try to make things change, and when they work out you have to try to keep them that way. I don't know if I'm playing my best ever, but it is definitely very good." On his transition from the ATP Challenger circuit to the ATP World Tour, Martinez says, "The Challenger circuit is very, very hard ...
many top 100 are going to play these tournaments and have a hard time winning. I have moved from Jávea to Valencia and I have had a very good preseason, working hard and the truth is that it is paying off." The 22 year old Martínez has worked earlier with Javi Ferrer, brother of former World No.
3 Ferrer and also the main coach at the Academy where he trained earlier and he is now working with Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Sergio Gallego at the Lozano-Altur Academy. "I feel very good. I have had to conclude my stay at the Ferrer Academy and now I am in a very beautiful new stage.
Dani will be in Rio with me and Sergio has been in Argentina, in Córdoba and Buenos Aires. I don't like to set goals, I like to go every day with the flow. I hope to continue with this level." Ranked No. 142 in the world, Martinez also says that he likes to ensure that he signs autographs with the fans today as he was also very happy when he was able to get some autographs of players when he was a youngster.
"I like it very much, it is very good to dedicate some time to the children, I remember when I was little and I was very excited. (I got autographs) with David Ferrer, Rafa Nadal and almost all Spaniards. To all the ones I have met, I have always taken a picture with them.
Now as a professional, I get along with Pablo (Andújar), Albert (Ramos), Marcel (Granollers), Marc (López), Jaume Munar. and with David (Ferrer) when he was at the academy, they are all friends. It is always a pleasure to be with them."