Federer Defeats Ferrero at Masters Cup
By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer
HOUSTON - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer overwhelmed French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-1 Friday at the Tennis Masters Cup to give himself a chance of finishing the season ranked No. 2.
Federer broke early in the first set and three times in the second, including in the final game. Federer earned his third match point with a fantastic cross-court backhand passing shot on the run, then won it when Ferrero put a backhand in the net.
The victory, which took only 54 minutes, made Federer 3-0 in the round-robin portion of the season-ending tournament. In the semifinals, he'll face No. 1 Andy Roddick or No. 4 Guillermo Coria, who were to play later Friday.
"I'm just happy the season is ending nicely," said Federer, who also beat Andre Agassi and David Nalbandian this week. "I was in a tough group, so to come through so easily — the last two matches especially — is surprising."
Federer had edges in winners (25-14) and unforced errors (15-23), and won the point on 80 percent of his trips to the net. Ferrero double-faulted seven times.
Ferrero went 0-3 in Houston, and now he'll try to help Spain beat Australia in this month's Davis Cup final. He already missed out on a chance to overtake Roddick at No. 1, and now he will slide to No. 3 if Federer wins the title.
"I played three very bad matches, but I had a great year, and it's only one bad week," said Ferrero, who lost to Roddick in the U.S. Open final and relinquished the top ranking last week.
Federer is tied with Roddick for the tour lead with six tournament victories in 2003, and the Swiss star's 76 match wins are the most this season.
[...]
Nalbandian got into an extended argument with chair umpire Enric Molina over line calls he thought went against him unfairly. Later, the Argentine complained about the officiating ("They can do a better job," he said through a translator) and tournament chairman Jim McIngvale's rooting for Agassi in the stands ("It's a lack of respect toward the players").
Ferrero made the Tennis Masters Cup semifinals at Sydney in 2001 and the final at Shanghai, China, in 2002, and he said those two tournaments were "much better than here." He wouldn't go into details other than to say he didn't like the court, and he said he relayed that and other complaints to tour manager Weller Evans.
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Federer Beats Ferrero to Remain Perfect at Masters Cup
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer crushed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-1 to complete round-robin play at the ATP Masters Cup unbeaten Friday, moving closer to taking over the Spaniard's number two place in the world rankings.
Federer will now play either world number one Andy Roddick or Argentine Guillermo Coria in the semifinals.
The other semi-final is already set with Andre Agassi taking on Germany's Rainer Schuettler.
Federer needed just 54 minutes on a sun-baked stadium court to sweep past a disinterested Ferrero, sending the French Open champion home without a win and his number two ranking in jeopardy.
The Swiss, however, must still win the $3.65 million year-end event if he is to push the Spaniard out of second
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throw arms
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By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer
HOUSTON - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer overwhelmed French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-1 Friday at the Tennis Masters Cup to give himself a chance of finishing the season ranked No. 2.
Federer broke early in the first set and three times in the second, including in the final game. Federer earned his third match point with a fantastic cross-court backhand passing shot on the run, then won it when Ferrero put a backhand in the net.
The victory, which took only 54 minutes, made Federer 3-0 in the round-robin portion of the season-ending tournament. In the semifinals, he'll face No. 1 Andy Roddick or No. 4 Guillermo Coria, who were to play later Friday.
"I'm just happy the season is ending nicely," said Federer, who also beat Andre Agassi and David Nalbandian this week. "I was in a tough group, so to come through so easily — the last two matches especially — is surprising."
Federer had edges in winners (25-14) and unforced errors (15-23), and won the point on 80 percent of his trips to the net. Ferrero double-faulted seven times.
Ferrero went 0-3 in Houston, and now he'll try to help Spain beat Australia in this month's Davis Cup final. He already missed out on a chance to overtake Roddick at No. 1, and now he will slide to No. 3 if Federer wins the title.
"I played three very bad matches, but I had a great year, and it's only one bad week," said Ferrero, who lost to Roddick in the U.S. Open final and relinquished the top ranking last week.
Federer is tied with Roddick for the tour lead with six tournament victories in 2003, and the Swiss star's 76 match wins are the most this season.
[...]
Nalbandian got into an extended argument with chair umpire Enric Molina over line calls he thought went against him unfairly. Later, the Argentine complained about the officiating ("They can do a better job," he said through a translator) and tournament chairman Jim McIngvale's rooting for Agassi in the stands ("It's a lack of respect toward the players").
Ferrero made the Tennis Masters Cup semifinals at Sydney in 2001 and the final at Shanghai, China, in 2002, and he said those two tournaments were "much better than here." He wouldn't go into details other than to say he didn't like the court, and he said he relayed that and other complaints to tour manager Weller Evans.
-----------------------------
Federer Beats Ferrero to Remain Perfect at Masters Cup
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer crushed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-1 to complete round-robin play at the ATP Masters Cup unbeaten Friday, moving closer to taking over the Spaniard's number two place in the world rankings.
Federer will now play either world number one Andy Roddick or Argentine Guillermo Coria in the semifinals.
The other semi-final is already set with Andre Agassi taking on Germany's Rainer Schuettler.
Federer needed just 54 minutes on a sun-baked stadium court to sweep past a disinterested Ferrero, sending the French Open champion home without a win and his number two ranking in jeopardy.
The Swiss, however, must still win the $3.65 million year-end event if he is to push the Spaniard out of second
---------------------------
Some pics
backhand
return
throw arms
sad
