ORDER OF PLAY Sunday, April 24, 2005
Center Court start 3:30
(8)R Nadal (ESP) vs (SE)J Ferrero (ESP)
After appropiate rest
Lopez/Nadal vs (2)Paes/Zimonjic
ARTICLE Local heroes battle for title
From correspondents in BarcelonaApril 24, 2005
JUAN Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal set up a perfectly scripted Spanish dream final at the Barcelona Open overnight as both blasted past semi-final opponents.
The unseeded Ferrero, who has been repairing a game gone stale due to illness and injury during 2004, played a match of two halves to oust seventh seed Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.
Former world No.1 Ferrero laboured for 68 minutes to win the opening set, then brought the victory home through a second set done and dusted in less than half an hour.
Marauding teenager Nadal, who has pulled himself into the ranks of heavy favourites for Roland Garros starting in a month, was merciless in his defeat of Czech journeyman Radek Stepanek, administering a 7-5, 6-2 lesson in one hour, 19 minutes.
The victory - two breaks in the second set ended any lingering resistance - gave last week's 18-year-old Monte Carlo champion a 2-0 mark against Stepanek after beating him in Davis Cup in 2004.
"I was glad to repeat my Davis Cup win," said the phenomenon, now standing 34-6 on the season, including an ATP-best 24-2 on clay.
"But it would mean so much for me to win the title here in Barcelona.
"Playing against my friend Juan Carlos will make it that much more special."
The youngster is within one victory of his fourth title on the red dirt this season after Costa Do Sauipe, Acapulco and his Monte Carlo triumph.
Ferrero said he would try to put memories of his loss in his only other meeting with Nadal out of mind. The 25-year-old former Roland Garros champion went down badly less than three weeks ago as he lost to Nadal in the first round at Valencia - Ferrero's home event.
"I won't be thinking about that match," said the senior Spaniard.
"I don't want to remember that day.
"Instead, I'll concentrate on our practice sessions for last year's Davis Cup final (over the US in Seville). Rafa and I played sets and matches. It was all very competitive, very tight."
Ferrero, who will dramatically improve his 58th ranking, found his game almost dropping off the radar screens last season as it tumbled towards the no-man's land of 100.
But victory in Barcelona would complete a miracle career turnaround.
"The five-set format won't be important," said Ferrero, whose last final was Rotterdam in February, 2004, four months after the last of his 11 career titles.
"If Rafa starts to dictate, you're in trouble.
"I want to get on top of him from the start and play very aggressive."
The 25-year-old won the title at the Real Club de Tenis in 2001 after losing the 2000 title match to Marat Safin.
Ferrero's victory overnight came as he played his second semi-final in as many weeks after Monte Carlo.
The Spaniard lost serve only once while breaking the 16th-ranked Davydenko three times.
Agence France-Presse
AUDIO A short clip of JC's post-match interview after defeating Gaudio.
>> clip (in Spanish)
Center Court start 3:30
(8)R Nadal (ESP) vs (SE)J Ferrero (ESP)
After appropiate rest
Lopez/Nadal vs (2)Paes/Zimonjic
ARTICLE Local heroes battle for title
From correspondents in BarcelonaApril 24, 2005
JUAN Carlos Ferrero and Rafael Nadal set up a perfectly scripted Spanish dream final at the Barcelona Open overnight as both blasted past semi-final opponents.
The unseeded Ferrero, who has been repairing a game gone stale due to illness and injury during 2004, played a match of two halves to oust seventh seed Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7/1), 6-1.
Former world No.1 Ferrero laboured for 68 minutes to win the opening set, then brought the victory home through a second set done and dusted in less than half an hour.
Marauding teenager Nadal, who has pulled himself into the ranks of heavy favourites for Roland Garros starting in a month, was merciless in his defeat of Czech journeyman Radek Stepanek, administering a 7-5, 6-2 lesson in one hour, 19 minutes.
The victory - two breaks in the second set ended any lingering resistance - gave last week's 18-year-old Monte Carlo champion a 2-0 mark against Stepanek after beating him in Davis Cup in 2004.
"I was glad to repeat my Davis Cup win," said the phenomenon, now standing 34-6 on the season, including an ATP-best 24-2 on clay.
"But it would mean so much for me to win the title here in Barcelona.
"Playing against my friend Juan Carlos will make it that much more special."
The youngster is within one victory of his fourth title on the red dirt this season after Costa Do Sauipe, Acapulco and his Monte Carlo triumph.
Ferrero said he would try to put memories of his loss in his only other meeting with Nadal out of mind. The 25-year-old former Roland Garros champion went down badly less than three weeks ago as he lost to Nadal in the first round at Valencia - Ferrero's home event.
"I won't be thinking about that match," said the senior Spaniard.
"I don't want to remember that day.
"Instead, I'll concentrate on our practice sessions for last year's Davis Cup final (over the US in Seville). Rafa and I played sets and matches. It was all very competitive, very tight."
Ferrero, who will dramatically improve his 58th ranking, found his game almost dropping off the radar screens last season as it tumbled towards the no-man's land of 100.
But victory in Barcelona would complete a miracle career turnaround.
"The five-set format won't be important," said Ferrero, whose last final was Rotterdam in February, 2004, four months after the last of his 11 career titles.
"If Rafa starts to dictate, you're in trouble.
"I want to get on top of him from the start and play very aggressive."
The 25-year-old won the title at the Real Club de Tenis in 2001 after losing the 2000 title match to Marat Safin.
Ferrero's victory overnight came as he played his second semi-final in as many weeks after Monte Carlo.
The Spaniard lost serve only once while breaking the 16th-ranked Davydenko three times.
Agence France-Presse
AUDIO A short clip of JC's post-match interview after defeating Gaudio.
>> clip (in Spanish)
