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Journalism of Courage
Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero was crowned King of Roland Garros on Sunday after he thrashed Martin Verkerk 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to win his first Grand Slam title.
The straight sets pummelling was the most one-sided men’s final here since 1978 when Bjorn Borg wiped Guillermo Vilas for the loss of just five games.
Clinching the win with a searing forehand, Ferrero fell to his knees before vaulting into the players’ box to hug and kiss his father and elder sisters as the tears flowed freely.
“It was 12 years ago when I first came to Roland Garros and I always dreamed of winning here, I don’t know what to say,” the 23-year-old said.
“These two weeks were the most special in my life, I was hoping to win and now it’s in the bag. I’d like to congratulate Martin, I hope he will keep improving.”
Twelve months ago Ferrero was denied victory here when, as overwhelming favourite in the final, his nerves failed him against compatriot Albert Costa.
But one year on, Ferrero never looked in any doubt that he would finally make his grand slam breakthrough in front of Spain’s former Olympic president Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Ferrero has never failed to reach the semi-finals here since first playing in 2000.
For Verkerk the entire tournament was a voyage of discovery.
Playing his first Roland Garros, he was only the third Dutchman to reach a Grand Slam final and bidding to be the second — after Richard Krajicek at Wimbledon in 1996 — to win one. However, he had not won a Grand Slam match before stepping on to the ochre-hued Parisian clay, and simply lost his way on centre court.
Overwhelmed as he was in the title match, his heroics this past fortnight have lifted him from world No. 46 to a ranking of 15. The 420,000 Euros ($495,200) he picks up for reaching the final also doubles his career earnings to date.(Reuters)
