Tennis: Spanish Soldier meets the King of Clay

The undisputable King Of Clay and two-time champ Gustavo Kuerten comes up against a Spanish claycourt soldier in Alex Corretja, who will employ some of his finest artillery in a bid to dethrone the master, in the French Open men's singles final today.

Top-seeded Kuerten is the defending champion who first conquered Roland Garros in 1997, outgunning three former champions en route to the emphatic victory - Thomas Muster, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Sergi Bruguera. Ranked No66 back then, he was the second-lowest Grand Slam champion ever.

This year, the charismatic Brazilian is no pretender to the throne and there's certainly been no element of surprise in his assent to the final.

The South American's record on clay in 2001 was 24-3, easily the most impressive win-loss record by number of victories of any Roland Garros top seed in the Open Era.

Kuerten has captured three titles in 2001, all on clay, and has displayed a dominance on Court Philippe Chatrier that hasn't been seen Sergi Bruguera won back-to-back titles in 1993 and 1994.

Guga, the tour's most celebrated surfer, encountered a dangerous wave in the form of American qualifier Michael Russell in the fourth round here last week but has shifted up a gear in every match since.

Russell served for the match against Kuerten at 6-3 6-4 5-3, and held a match point against the Brazilian before losing his nerve and the match.

After that stirring five set triumph Kuerten drew a heart in the red dirt, flashed his winning smile and went on to play like a man possessed.

He accounted for an in-form Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the quarters and cooly dissected the game of the man tipped to usurp him for the title this year, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in straight sets in the semis.

"It's like I had being out and they give me another chance to play the tournament. I feel myself with nothing to lose anymore. It's completely different situation. I shouldn't have win that match (against Russell).

"I was blessed that day. The luck came and I need to make myself the way to the final. Now I'm there," said Kuerten who, if he wins today, would be the first man in 25 years to do so here after being match point down at some stage of the tournament.

Said the Brazilian of his second home, Court Philippe Chatrier: "It can be a temple, but it can be a hole, too. You can see yourself in best and worst situations. But for sure my greatest happiness in my career was in this center court."

Kafelnikov compared the popular Brazilian to Picasso, saying that Guga had the ability to "draw his backhand up the line, cross court, everything".

"I'm in completely different form than last year. I prepare myself better", said the Brazilian who has contemplated treating himself to a Van Gogh painting if he wins.

The only player to travel with a full time publicist, Guga's celebrity status rivals that of soccer star Ronaldo.

The 24-year-old has his own dedicated website and a win on Sunday would make him even more of a superstar in his home country. Indeed, if Guga claims his third Roland Garros crown he will be amongst distinguished company - joining the likes of Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander, who won the title three (or more, in the case of Borg) times.

"I never really expect to happen to me. I don't try to compare myself with other guys. Not even my best dreams I was able to win here three times."

Kuerten's opponent on Sunday, the 27-year-old claycourt journeyman and No13 seed Alex Corretja, was a finalist here in 1998 (losing to countryman Carlos Moya in straight sets), and is relishing the opportunity of another crack at the clay crown.

"It (this year's final) is different of course. At that time ('98) it was my first final, against a friend. Maybe I wasn't too focused on that match, maybe thinking it was the same like to win or lose. But after two days, I realized how bad it was losing that because it's a big difference, not to win."

Corretja has arrived at the final for the loss of just two sets - both in his opening round against Marian Zabaleta - and is on an eight-match winning streak on the red dirt.

Eight of his 14 career singles titles have come on clay and the Spaniard, who has played an amazing 356 career matches on this surface, has reached the quarter final or better here for the last four years in a row.

During his straight sets demolition of French hero and No10 seed Sebastien Grosjean in the semi finals on Friday, the steady Corretja played perfect claycourt tennis, out-smarting, out-stroking and out-gunning the younger player. His clash against the Brazilian should be an epic.

"I didn't drop a set since the first day. It means that I'm probably playing much better than I even imagined when I came here. Going into the final, it's always nice to see that you don't feel exhausted physically or mentally too tired."

The No1 Spaniard has played a reduced schedule of events (nine in total) in 2001 with his best result coming in Rome, where he reached the quarter final (losing to Guga).

He entered Roland Garros with a 15-8 record and his return to form this fortnight has provided the Spaniard with a big dose of confidence. "It's great for me to realize I was finalist in '98, we are still 2001, and I am in another big final, able to play again Top 10, feeling like I'm playing pretty good tennis, to prove myself that it's worth it what I'm doing. You know, travelling all around, practising, making all the efforts.

"If I would not have the chance to be on this moment, maybe it would be tough for me to continue."

Corretja said he was glad that his stab at ending the great reign of Guga would come on the Parisian clay and not in Rome, the scene of their last three meetings, where the former World No1 has beaten him in straight sets on each occasion.

"That was in Rome. Always in Rome. This is Roland Garros. I hope it's going to be different story. I think Guga, he seems to have found himself again on the court. He was hitting pretty well from both sides, serving well, having the control of the match."

One of the friendliest players on the tour, Corretja won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 1996 and 1998, but says he won't be calling any close calls come Sunday afternoon. The Spaniard learnt his lesson here in the fourth round in 1997, when he overruled a call that had been made in his favor and conceded the point to his opponent, who finished off the game and broke Corretja to win the match.

"I've been playing on clay for many years. Most of the time I know if the ball is good or not. If I see the ball on the line I would give the ball to the opponent, no matter if it's the final or first round. If it's pretty close maybe I like the chair umpire to take the decision."