WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Ferrero: "It was a hard match. The first set was very equal with some long rallies, but I played the important points well. There were quite a few games where I was down 15-30, but managed to hold. When I secured a break early in the second set things got much easier from there. I think I played well overall."
On playing Christophe Rochus
"I played against Rochus in the Davis Cup and beat him easily. I am going to have that match in the back of my mind and I hope to repeat the result tomorrow. It is going to be a great feeling to be playing a final in Valencia and I hope a lot of people will continue to come and support me."
Saretta: "I knew I was going to have to fight as hard if not harder than yesterday to win the match. When I lost the first set, I sensed it was going to be tough to win two more sets. My will to keep fighting hard was tested when he broke my serve in the second set. Every game was intense. With Ferrero, there are no free points."
Rochus on playing Juan Carlos Ferrero:
"I think I would have had more chances to beat Saretta, but to play Ferrero in the final is truly a gift. I am going to be playing the best clay court player in the world right now in my first final. For sure, if Ferrero is playing at 100 percent, I won't have a chance. Perhaps if he is playing at 90 or 95 percent and I'm playing at my best, I'll beat him."
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Local boy done good
Ferrero reaches final of hometown Valencia Open
VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) -- Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero overpowered Brazil's Flavio Saretta 7-6 6-2 to reach the final of his hometown tournament on Saturday.
Ferrero edged the first set 7-3 on the tie-break and clinched victory by reeling off four games from 2-2 in the second.
The Spaniard's reward will be a final against Christophe Rochus after the Belgian continued his unexpected run with a 6-3 6-2 success against Fernando Vicente.
"When it really mattered I played good tennis and that took me into the final," Ferrero said.
Ferrero beat Rochus in straight sets when they met in the Davis Cup this year and the world No. 3 will be confident of another win over the Belgian, who came to Valencia without a win since the Australian Open in January.
"I did beat Rochus easily last time," Ferrero noted. "I hope the crowd continue to give me plenty of support against him in the final."
If Rochus, who has never won on the ATP tour, can find the same fluent form he displayed against Vicente, Ferrero may not have things all his own way in the final.
[...]
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After some confusion we finally figured out that JC def. Saretta in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-2. LOL =) He now advances to the finals against C. Rochus (Bel)
Picture 1: Return
Picture 2: Victory
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Main Draw for TMS Roma is Out.
JC faces a qualifier in the first round and then there's a possible clash with Kuerten (again) and either Safin or Federer in the Semis (if he gets that far).
Main Draw Singles
TMS Roma Official Site
Ferrero: "It was a hard match. The first set was very equal with some long rallies, but I played the important points well. There were quite a few games where I was down 15-30, but managed to hold. When I secured a break early in the second set things got much easier from there. I think I played well overall."
On playing Christophe Rochus
"I played against Rochus in the Davis Cup and beat him easily. I am going to have that match in the back of my mind and I hope to repeat the result tomorrow. It is going to be a great feeling to be playing a final in Valencia and I hope a lot of people will continue to come and support me."
Saretta: "I knew I was going to have to fight as hard if not harder than yesterday to win the match. When I lost the first set, I sensed it was going to be tough to win two more sets. My will to keep fighting hard was tested when he broke my serve in the second set. Every game was intense. With Ferrero, there are no free points."
Rochus on playing Juan Carlos Ferrero:
"I think I would have had more chances to beat Saretta, but to play Ferrero in the final is truly a gift. I am going to be playing the best clay court player in the world right now in my first final. For sure, if Ferrero is playing at 100 percent, I won't have a chance. Perhaps if he is playing at 90 or 95 percent and I'm playing at my best, I'll beat him."
---------------------------------------
Local boy done good
Ferrero reaches final of hometown Valencia Open
VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) -- Top-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero overpowered Brazil's Flavio Saretta 7-6 6-2 to reach the final of his hometown tournament on Saturday.
Ferrero edged the first set 7-3 on the tie-break and clinched victory by reeling off four games from 2-2 in the second.
The Spaniard's reward will be a final against Christophe Rochus after the Belgian continued his unexpected run with a 6-3 6-2 success against Fernando Vicente.
"When it really mattered I played good tennis and that took me into the final," Ferrero said.
Ferrero beat Rochus in straight sets when they met in the Davis Cup this year and the world No. 3 will be confident of another win over the Belgian, who came to Valencia without a win since the Australian Open in January.
"I did beat Rochus easily last time," Ferrero noted. "I hope the crowd continue to give me plenty of support against him in the final."
If Rochus, who has never won on the ATP tour, can find the same fluent form he displayed against Vicente, Ferrero may not have things all his own way in the final.
[...]
--------------------------------
After some confusion we finally figured out that JC def. Saretta in straight sets 7-6 (3), 6-2. LOL =) He now advances to the finals against C. Rochus (Bel)
Picture 1: Return
Picture 2: Victory
----------------------------------
Main Draw for TMS Roma is Out.
JC faces a qualifier in the first round and then there's a possible clash with Kuerten (again) and either Safin or Federer in the Semis (if he gets that far).
Main Draw Singles
TMS Roma Official Site
