Juan Carlos Ferrero smacked winners while lunging so far he nearly landed in the courtside geraniums. He whipped returns at his opponent's feet, put strokes on the lines and controlled the tempo on nearly every point.
Add it up, and Ferrero made Martin Verkerk look exactly like what the Dutchman will be this week: a player at a local club.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Far more at ease with the setting, Ferrero claimed his first Grand Slam title at the tournament where he came so close the past three years, beating the unseeded Verkerk 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday in the most lopsided French Open final since 1978.
PHOTO: AP
"This is a tournament I always wanted to win," the third-seeded Ferrero said, "and now I have it in my pocket."
When the Spaniard laced a forehand winner on match point, he dropped his racket and fell to his knees. After a hug from Verkerk, Ferrero ran to the other end of the court and hopped the wall to celebrate with friends and family in the guest box.
His energy was just that boundless all afternoon. He lived up to his nickname, ``Mosquito,'' earned by the way he zips around the court.
Scrambling side to side, Ferrero won 15 of the 22 points that lasted 10 strokes or longer. And by standing as far as 12 feet behind the baseline, he managed to neutralize with precise returns the serves from Verkerk.
"I'm not happy, of course," Verkerk said, "but on the other hand, I can say: `OK, I had no chance.'"
Until this tournament, he had never won a Grand Slam match, and his overall career record in seven years as a pro was below .500. On Tuesday, he'll be back in the Netherlands to play for the national club team championship.
Verkerk was the first player since Mikael Pernfors in 1986 to reach the final in his French Open debut and the eighth unseeded finalist in the last 35 years.
"To be in a final of a Grand Slam -- there are no words for that," Verkerk said. "I mean, I'm still dreaming. And I think I will dream for a little longer."
Right from the start Sunday, the 46th-ranked Verkerk seemed happy to be there: When the players walked out on court, he led the way, smiling and waving to the crowd. Ferrero was straightfaced, looking down as he carried two racket bags to his chair.
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