Ferrero shows extra bite
in Monte Carlo triumph
Second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero brushed aside former world number one Carlos Moya 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to win the first all-Spanish final of the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday.
Moya, champion here in 1998 -- the same year he went on to win the French Open -- could not contain the power unleashed by his compatriot from the back of the court throughout their two-hour baseline battle.
The triumph, sealed with a thumping service winner, handed Ferrero his first title of the season.
"We both fought a lot but in the end I was more aggressive and that is what made the difference, I think," he said after receiving his trophy from Prince Albert of Monaco as Spanish flags flapped over the court.
"This is a very important victory for me. The best players in the world came here and I am very pleased with the level of my tennis the whole week."
Never in the 106-year history of the tournament had two Spaniards met in the final and the pair started in impressive fashion to grace the occasion, clubbing groundstrokes on to the lines.
They matched each other shot for shot as the sun beat down on the Monte Carlo Country Club's Centre Court.
Ferrero, serving first, was pegged back by Moya -- at 25, three years his senior -- until, at 6-5 ahead, Moya faltered.
CRANKING PRESSURE
With Ferrero cranking up the pressure, Moya hit a backhand low into the net to hand the baseliner the break and opening set 7-5.
Having won Rome and finished runner-up in Hamburg last year, this was Ferrero's third consecutive claycourt Masters final, and he went from strength to strength in front of 12,000 fans.
Moya is once again showing the sort of form that saw him win the French Open in 1998 and top the men's rankings the following year but he had few answers against the dynamic Ferrero.
Having got off to a superb start on clay this year, winning the Acapulco title in March and coming into this final with a 13-1 record on the surface, Moya had high hopes.
But Ferrero, nicknamed 'the Mosquito', hit him continuously with centimetre-perfect backhands and powerfully-punched forehands to every corner of the court.
Another backhand error into the net handed Ferrero a break and 3-1 lead in the second set and that was all he needed as he served out for a two-set lead five games later.
Moya, who was involved in a tough three-set semifinal with Britain's Tim Henman which ran late into the night on Saturday, began to wilt in the afternoon sun.
He grabbed an early break which he then relinquished and his task became an increasingly uphill one. Ferrero broke again for a 5-4 lead -- converting his fourth of five break points -- before serving out for victory.
"I don't feel he has a weak point or somewhere you can attack him," Moya said afterwards.
"That is the problem. For me he is a problem, so I can't tell you the best way to play him.
"We started well, but he got the break and then it was very hard for me to come back -- especially after finishing late last night. But he is a great player and I cannnot be too disappointed. I had a great week."
