Injuries began to plague Ferrero throughout 2004, and his ranking and form dipped.
Despite making the Australian Open semifinals early in the year, losing to Roger Federer 4–6, 1–6, 4–6, and the finals of ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, losing to Lleyton Hewitt, 7–6, 5–7, 4–6, chicken pox kept him out for the entire month of March.
He came back at Davis Cup against Netherlands and won both his matches defeating Raemon Sluiter 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 and Martin Verkerk 6–4, 6–7, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 and the semifinals of the Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana losing to Fernando Verdasco 2–6, 1–6.
After a first–round loss in Monte Carlo Masters to Alex Corretja 2–6, 3–6 in April, he required another month out for rest and recuperation.
On 8 May, Ferrero fell during a practice session, injuring his ribs and his right wrist and went into the defence of his French Open crown under–prepared.
He lost in the second round to Igor Andreev 4–6, 2–6, 3–6.
At the Wimbledon Championships he reached the third round losing to Robby Ginepri 3–6, 4–6, 1–6.
After Wimbledon, he failed to win back–to–back matches.
He lost in the first rounds of Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad to Stefan Koubek 6–7, 4–6 and of Canada Masters retiring 2–3 down against Fabrice Santoro.
He lost in the second round of Cincinnati Masters losing to Tommy Robredo 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, Summer Olympics losing to Mardy Fish 6–4, 6–7, 4–6, US Open to Stefan Koubek 6–7, 6–4, 7–6, 2–6, 3–6, China Open to Kevin Kim 4–6, 4–6, Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon to David Ferrer 6–3, 5–7, 3–6, and Madrid Masters to Luis Horna 3–6, 1–6.
He ended the year at 31, finishing outside the world's top 30 for the first time in five years.
Injuries began to plague Ferrero throughout 2004, and his ranking and form dipped. Despite making the Australian Open semifinals early in the year, losing to Roger Federer 4–6, 1–6, 4–6, and the finals of ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, losing to Lleyton Hewitt, 7–6, 5–7, 4–6, chicken pox kept him out for the entire month of March. He came back at Davis Cup against Netherlands and won both his matches defeating Raemon Sluiter 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 and Martin Verkerk 6–4, 6–7, 4–6, 7–5, 6–1 and the semifinals of the Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana losing to Fernando Verdasco 2–6, 1–6. After a first–round loss in Monte Carlo Masters to Alex Corretja 2–6, 3–6 in April, he required another month out for rest and recuperation. On 8 May, Ferrero fell during a practice session, injuring his ribs and his right wrist and went into the defence of his French Open crown under–prepared. He lost in the second round to Igor Andreev 4–6, 2–6, 3–6. At the Wimbledon Championships he reached the third round losing to Robby Ginepri 3–6, 4–6, 1–6. After Wimbledon, he failed to win back–to–back matches. He lost in the first rounds of Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad to Stefan Koubek 6–7, 4–6 and of Canada Masters retiring 2–3 down against Fabrice Santoro. He lost in the second round of Cincinnati Masters losing to Tommy Robredo 6–7, 6–4, 4–6, Summer Olympics losing to Mardy Fish 6–4, 6–7, 4–6, US Open to Stefan Koubek 6–7, 6–4, 7–6, 2–6, 3–6, China Open to Kevin Kim 4–6, 4–6, Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon to David Ferrer 6–3, 5–7, 3–6, and Madrid Masters to Luis Horna 3–6, 1–6. He ended the year at 31, finishing outside the world's top 30 for the first time in five years.
Juan Carlos Ferrero