Day trader Ferreira hopes to cash in at tournament

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, July 25, 2000 | 9:44 a.m.

LOS ANGELES -- Some players sleep before a match. Others exchange e-mail. And some like to read.

If time permits, South African Wayne Ferreira engages in a more stressful activity -- day trading.

Before his first-round match against Anthony Dupuis in the Mercedes-Benz Cup Monday, Ferreira was trading online from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

"It was a bad day," Ferreira lamented while shaking his head. "I think the NASDAQ was down 120 points."

At least he had a better day on the court.

Ferreira, the fifth seed, easily disposed of Dupuis, 6-2, 6-2, in one hour and four minutes.

"It was pretty easy," Ferreira said. "I was playing decent.

"He missed a lot of balls. He went for a lot and didn't get a lot in."

In other first-round matches, Ferreira's doubles partner Kevin Ullyett beat Ronald Agenor 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4, eighth-seeded Arnaud Clement defeated Marcos Ondruska, 6-3, 6-2, and Jan Kroslak defeated Cyril Saulnier 6-2, 6-2.

Former UCLA standout Justin Gimelstob beat Australian James Sekulov in the final match of the day, 6-3, 6-3.

Ferreira said he became hip to day trading five or six months ago and tries to do it every morning.

"I just hope my matches aren't too early," he said.

Ferreira has been exploring another career option for when his playing days are over -- coaching.

Less than a year ago Ferreira, who lives with his wife and son in Berkeley, Calif., began practicing with one of the players on the Cal men's tennis team. Because of NCAA rules, non-team members are not allowed to practice with the team so Ferreira was asked if would like to be a volunteer assistant coach.

When Ferreira is home, he practices with the team every day.

"It's been fun," Ferreira said. "The young guys are enthusiastic and they practice pretty hard.

"They practice harder than me."