Spaniard wins ‘perfect final’

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO broke his Grand Slam duck and ensured the French Open men’s singles crown stayed in Spanish hands with yesterday’s 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 demolition of Dutch newcomer Martin Verkerk.

"It was the perfect final for me. It's my life's dream come true. It's 12 years since I came here for the first time. I dreamed of this moment," the champion beamed after becoming the sixth Spaniard to get his hands on the trophy.

"I always believed I could win Roland Garros if not last year then this year. Right now I think I can win more times.

"I think I played a wonderful two weeks. Mentally I was perfect. I am feeling so happy it is very special to win the tournament you so want to win."

The lean 23-year-old lived up to his reputation as the swashbuckling skipper of the Spanish claycourt armada making up for last year's crushing four-set defeat in the final to compatriot Albert Costa.

Ferrero had been way below his best in that match because of an ankle injury but he wreaked powerful revenge with a straight sets victory over Costa in the semis and then showed the big-serving Verkerk the exit door with an all-round performance of verve and tenacity.

In lifting the legendary Musketeers Cup, Ferrero, who in reaching the final had already taken pole position in the ATP Champions Race, quashed any doubts about his ability to perform on the biggest stage.

"I had the experience of playing a bad final last year," Ferrero explained.

"Before the match today I was thinking I had to give my best mentally and 'tennistically'."

Ferrero came here at the end of a claycourt season in which he has been nigh on unstoppable on the slow, red European dirt after winning in Monte Carlo and Valencia and only losing out in the Rome semis owing to a right shoulder problem which forced him to withdraw from a meeting with Swiss star Roger Federer.

Ferrero's win gave the Spanish their eighth men's title at the mecca of claycourt tennis and fifth in the past decade.

He succeeded countrymen Manuel Santana winner in 1961 and 1964 Andres Gimeno in 1972, Sergi Bruguera in 1993 and 1994, Carlos Moya in 1998 and Costa 12 months ago.

Verkerk did manage 12 aces to only two for Ferrero but the Spaniard has an entire arsenal of claycourt weapons at his disposal and his failure to break the 200 kph speed limit on his own service proved irrelevant to the new champion, whose toughest test here this past fortnight was a five-setter against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the last eight.

That win was a crucial step along the road to glory as Ferrero settled a five-year-old score having lost the 1998 junior final to the man from Santiago.

Ferrero finally managed to swat the big-hitting Chilean 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 and then proved too good for Costa.

Against Verkerk, Ferrero ensured he moved into top gear from the outset, and stayed there as he came within sight of the winning post though he had to shrug off half a dozen missed break chances in the fifth game of the third set before completing his win with a big forehand which left his opponent standing.

After collapsing in the clay, then climbing into the stands to celebrate with his entourage, Ferrero finally grasped the Musketeers Cup and raised it in triumph above his head.