Ferrer wins Japan Open
2007-10-07 08:11
Tokyo - Spain's top seed David Ferrer kept his career-best season rolling on Sunday, taking the men's singles at the Japan Open with an easy win over Richard Gasquet of France.
The 25-year-old, who reached a career-high world No. 8 ranking after a semi-final appearance at the US Open, coasted to a 6-1, 6-2 win over the French third seed.
"It's a great feeling. It's my first time to win here in Tokyo on hard-court. It's unbelievable. This is the best moment of my career," he said.
Everthing went perfectly for Ferrer, who stormed ahead 4-0 in the first set and 3-0 in the second. He never faced a crisis during the 53-minute baseline battle.
Gasquet, a Wimbledon semi-finalist this season, missed two break points in the fourth game of the first set and struggled to take his chances.
Ferrer became only the second Spaniard to win the men's title at the Japan Open, after Manuel Orantes in 1977.
It was his third title of the season and fifth overall, following victories at Bucharest in 2002, Stuttgart in 2006, and Auckland and Bastad this year. He took home the winner's check of 145,000 dollars.
On Saturday, France's Virginie Razzano upset reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams of the United States 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 to win the women's singles.
- AFP