Ferrero wins battle of the Spaniards

BARCELONA, APRIL 30. Juan Carlos Ferrero battled back from 3-1 down and 15-40 in the fifth set to win a classic battle between baseliners, beating fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3- 6, 7-5 to triumph in the $ 1 million Barcelona Open here on Sunday.

The 21-year-old third seed, last year's losing finalist to Russian Marat Safin, joined Andre Agassi and Gustavo Kuerten as a three-time winner this year on the ATP having already won in Dubai and Estoril.

The marathon-only the fourth time in 49 years that two Spaniards had contested the final-was not decided until the end with momentum shifts aplenty on the red clay.

Ferrero, who burst onto the scene last year reaching the French Open semifinals and inspiring Spain to its Davis Cup final triumph over holder Australia, only sealed the match after 1998 French Open champion Moya had saved two match points in the 12th game of the final set.

Ferrero finally benefitted as Moya, who has not won a title since Estoril last year, double-faulted to yield a third match-winning opportunity.

Ferrero then claimed victory in 4 hrs 6 min when his 11th-seeded opponent slammed an overhead into the net.

``I've never played such a tough final in my career before,'' he said.

``In the fifth set, when I was down 3-1 and 15-40 on my serve, somewhere I found the strength to come back and win. It was a physical battle today and I was just able to outlast him. This final showed that we Spaniards are the best players on clay. We have a great feel for the surface.''

``I had more confidence going into this final and my physical shape was much better,'' he added.

Ferrero, who has earned the nickname `the mosquito', said that despite trailing in all his matches it would only serve him well for his next three tournaments, culminating in the French Open.

``I suffered a lot at this tournament,'' he said. ``I was behind all the time in my matches. But my confidence is high now going into Rome, Hamburg and Roland Garros. I've won two out of three events I played on clay,'' he added.

Moya, who has won just once in five meetings with Ferrero, was annoyed with himself for continually letting slip occasions to take the initiative because of unforced errors.

``I knew it would be a long five sets,'' he said. ``I tried to take risks with my serve, but it didn't work that well. He was too good today,'' the former world number one added.

Moya began well, wasting no time in taking command of the opening set. The 24-year-old earned a break for 2-1 as the jittery Ferrero double-faulted to lose the third game.

That miscue was enough for Moya. He held onto the margin throughout the set and took it in the tenth game when he served out. Moya kept up the momentum when he broke to start the second set after Ferrero saved three break points.

But chasing a Moya lob put him well back in the court and he was unable to reach a drop shot as Moya took a 1-0 lead.

But the right-hander from Mallorca lost his own serve in the next game as Ferrero broke back for 1-1. The pace of the second set slowed as both men tried to steer their returns from the baseline.

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