Ferrero farewells AlbertBy Matthew Cronin
Juan Carlos Ferrero earned a measure of revenge for his loss to defending champion Albert Costa in last year's final by outslugging his countryman 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4 in the Roland-Garros semi finals on Friday.
"I have a lot more experience now," said Ferrero, who will play the Netherlands' Martin Verkerk in the final. "I have a lot of matches inside me. That's very important. I feel great. When you're physically fit, you also feel well from the point of view of your tennis."
In his fourth straight appearance in the semifinals, Ferrero was the more aggressive and creative player on the day, controlling the court with his much improved serves, smacking winners off both wings and pouncing on Costa's second serves.
The 23-year-old Ferrero nailed seven aces in the match, whacked 17 winners from the baseline and won 19 of his 17 net approaches.
The courageous Costa had come back from two sets down three times in the tournament, but against Ferrero, was never able to establish his deep, pounding game.
Costa had a chance to serve out the second set at 5-3, but couldn't keep the cat-quick Ferrero off his back. In the tiebreak, Costa jumped out to a 4-2 lead with a nifty drop shot winner, but Ferrero battled back, winning the set with two gorgeous forehand winners.
In the third set, marathon man Costa finally wore down and when facing a break point at 3-3, his legs gave out and he fell backwards on the clay after hitting a fairly standard forehand. Ferrero - who has won his last 12 matches against fellow Spaniards - coolly served out the match, nailing an ace, snapping in a wicked serve that he followed up with a forehand putaway; nailing a service winner; and winning the match with an inside out forehand.
"It's the end of a marathon apart from the fact that I wanted to win here again," Costa said. "Sometimes you have to be realistic. Juan Carlos played a fabulous match. I fought to the end. I was convinced that if he gave me the slightest opportunity I would have taken it. But he didn't."
Ferrero first came to Roland Garros as a 12-year-old fan and since then, has been determined to win the title. Last year, he played poorly on a sore ankle against Costa and was nervous for the first two sets. This year, he feels he's a more mature person.
"I've always wanted to win here," Ferrero said. "It's one of my dreams, ambitions. It's not an obsession but one of my goals."
Juan Carlos Ferrero earned a measure of revenge for his loss to defending champion Albert Costa in last year's final by outslugging his countryman 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4 in the Roland-Garros semi finals on Friday.
"I have a lot more experience now," said Ferrero, who will play the Netherlands' Martin Verkerk in the final. "I have a lot of matches inside me. That's very important. I feel great. When you're physically fit, you also feel well from the point of view of your tennis."
In his fourth straight appearance in the semifinals, Ferrero was the more aggressive and creative player on the day, controlling the court with his much improved serves, smacking winners off both wings and pouncing on Costa's second serves.
The 23-year-old Ferrero nailed seven aces in the match, whacked 17 winners from the baseline and won 19 of his 17 net approaches.
The courageous Costa had come back from two sets down three times in the tournament, but against Ferrero, was never able to establish his deep, pounding game.
Costa had a chance to serve out the second set at 5-3, but couldn't keep the cat-quick Ferrero off his back. In the tiebreak, Costa jumped out to a 4-2 lead with a nifty drop shot winner, but Ferrero battled back, winning the set with two gorgeous forehand winners.
In the third set, marathon man Costa finally wore down and when facing a break point at 3-3, his legs gave out and he fell backwards on the clay after hitting a fairly standard forehand. Ferrero - who has won his last 12 matches against fellow Spaniards - coolly served out the match, nailing an ace, snapping in a wicked serve that he followed up with a forehand putaway; nailing a service winner; and winning the match with an inside out forehand.
"It's the end of a marathon apart from the fact that I wanted to win here again," Costa said. "Sometimes you have to be realistic. Juan Carlos played a fabulous match. I fought to the end. I was convinced that if he gave me the slightest opportunity I would have taken it. But he didn't."
Ferrero first came to Roland Garros as a 12-year-old fan and since then, has been determined to win the title. Last year, he played poorly on a sore ankle against Costa and was nervous for the first two sets. This year, he feels he's a more mature person.
"I've always wanted to win here," Ferrero said. "It's one of my dreams, ambitions. It's not an obsession but one of my goals."
