Ferrero Pounds Verkerk to Finally Win the French Open



Posted on June 10, 2003

ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
Juan Carlos Ferrero got the monkey off his back in fine fashion and made clear that he is the world's best clay court player as he put the hurt on surprise finalist Martin Verkerk 6-1, 6-3, 6-2, to grab the coveted French title. After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, the 23-year-old Spaniard rushed out on top in the opening game breaking Verkerk the Berserk and never looking back in what turned out to be a blowout of a final. "I think I had the experience last year to play bad the final, you know," said Ferrero, who has now won 28 of his last 30 matches on dirt. "And this time, before the match, you know, I was thinking that I have to try to give my best, to try to give my best mentally, physically, tennistically." Note to all: We should all try to do things more "tennistically." Actually, Ferrero did play a strategically smart game by standing way back to return Verkerk's monstrous serve, and after a few rallies start the merry-go-round and get the big boy moving side-to-side. Added Ferrero, "I think I went to the court so concentrate since the beginning of the match. I break his serve in the first game, and I start to feel so good all the time from the base of the line, return, serving. So I think was the perfect final for me." Ferrero says he will now set his site on winning other Grand Slams, and perhaps on purchasing an Astin Martin - we are not sure if he meant just the car or the entire company. For the Gumby-like Verkerk, his fairy tale run finally ended. "This is the first day I can be really happy about it because the tournament is over," said the 6-foot-6 Dutchman, who had never won a slam match before the event. "And I'm gonna enjoy it. Was an amazing week for me, incredible result. And I'm unbelievable happy and also proud of myself, how I compete and fight. Also this match I fought what I could, but he was too good." Verkerk now has the honor of playing Dutch club tennis next week, while Ferrero rests up for Wimbledon. The streaker was unavailable for comment, but surely he'll be back.

TOUR NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
Kim Clijsters earned a nice 20th birthday preent as she joined forces with Ai Sugiyama to win the laides doubles crown on Sunday. Too bad the match was relegated to Court 1. Ouch...Juan Carlos Ferrero becomes the first Roland Garros juinor runner-up to win the men's title since...Albert Costa last year...Martin Verkerk was trying to become the first Dutchman to ever win Roland Garros...As reported, citing family reasons Jason Stoltenberg has resigned as coach of Lleyton Hewitt. Roger Rasheed will take over coaching duties heading into Wimbledon...More from Hewitt, he may file his lawsuit against the ATP this week...Mark Philippoussis faces Richard Krajicek in the first round at Queen's. Wow...Venus says she will play in the July Fed Cup battle, er slaughter, against Italy in D.C...Brian Baker's attempt to become the first American Junior Boys champ since Johnny Mac was foiled by Stanislas Wawrinka, who topped the Nashville native 7-5, 4-6, 6-3...Anna-Lena Groenefeld won the Junior Girls event...Hewitt this week is trying to win his fourth straight Queens title...The next match for Andre Agassi, who is playing in Queen's, will his 1,000th...Max Mirnyi is the new No. 1 on the ATP Doubles ESP...Greg Rusedski, a quarterfinalist last week at the Surbiton Challenger, will play in his first ATP event since last September against Robby Ginepri today...After 2.5 weeks in Paris, Tennis-X is back in the U.S...Stay tuned for reports from Wimbledon starting a week from Thursday.