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FERRERO ON DOORSTEP OF
SLAM TITLE AFTER BEATING SAFIN
How to collapse in Russian:
Viva Espanol!
By
Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net
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Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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FROM ROLAND GARROS –
Word has it that back in Valencia when they were juniors, Juan Carlos
Ferrero taught Marat Safin how to swear in Spanish. So what was
Safin muttering to his racket in the third set of his 6-3 6-2 6-4
drubbing at the hands of Ferrero – Salvame desde este pinche
mosquito (Save me from this f---ing mosquito)?
Whatever the language, Russian
or Spanish, Safin's mental checkout due to his massive overconfidence
coming into the match was a major reason why he never worked himself
into the contest. So now we the third all-Spanish final since 1994,
with "El Mosquito" Ferrero facing the revived Albert Costa,
who rode his forehand over good buddy Alex Corretja, 6-3 6-4 3-6
6-3.
The Aussie Open finalist and
former U.S. Open champion said Thursday that he had Ferrero's number
and believed he could hit through him. But the quick-fisted and
light-footed Ferrero had and answer for everyone of Safin's blasts
and is now the favorite to win his first Slam crown.
"I couldn't find a solution
to beat him," said Safin. "The guy's sure playing great
tennis. The guy was just better than me. I tried to find my game
but he was too good. I couldn't do much and that is why the score
was 6-3 6-2 6-4. Pretty easy, huh? Even when I had a break in the
first set he played much better. The guy knows how to play. He has
learned a lot and is very dangerous. I tried to move him around
but the guy was everywhere. He is fast and has great shots; I couldn't
find a solution to beat him. … He played completely different
as a kid," said Safin, whose parents sent him to Spain to train.
"He was making lobs all the time and never missing a ball …
just getting it back. Now he is attacking all the time. It's impressive
how you can change your game like that."
INJURED ANKLE DIDN'T SLOW
'MOSQUITO'
Here's what has been truly amazing about Ferrero's run: After he
injured his ankle early in the first week and really couldn't run
well in three matches, he was forced to try to hit more winners.
He found out that he could muscle the ball accurately only because
he was forced to do so. So once he got his speed back against Agassi
and Safin, not only could he fly to the ball, but bury it deep.
Hence, he only lost a set against two of the tournament's favorites.
"It's Spanish party,"
said Ferrero. "I want to think I played so great and not because
Marat lost his mind. I didn't make mistakes."
Ferrero said that one of the
keys to him finally reaching the final after losing in the semis
the last two years is his much improved serve, which he can kick,
slice and slam down flat. It's very tough to attack now, which wasn't
the case last year.
FATHERHOOD CALMS A BROODING
COSTA
The veteran Costa has also improved
his serve, mental game and his forehand is a massive weapon. Maybe
having two-13-month old twin girls helped him ease his mind of his
past failures as he had to stop obsessing about himself, which most
parents know is nearly impossible when you have to change two diapers
at the same time. And here's an added bonus when he tries to free
his mind of tennis overload – he's getting married to his girlfriend
and mother of his children, Cristina, on Friday. Guess who's the
best man? Every hombre's favorite Alex.
"I'm more relaxed and
I'm calmer," Costa said. "I don't feel like if I lose
it's drama or anything. … Today was the greatest moment of my
life in tennis but that will also be a great, great moment. For
sure this is a really good gift for my wedding."
Of course what would be greater would be a win over Ferrero in the
final, but you have to like JC's chances a little more. He's faster,
has a better overall game and has little to lose.
So how will the English speaking
world react to another all Spanish final? maybe the way that the
Spanish world reacted to the '01 Sampras-Hewitt U.S. Open final
– they opened their eyes and enjoyed another style of tennis,
one which sent all the English and French speakers off to the grass
courts earlier they they wanted to. An authoritative, indefatigable,
athletic, purposeful style which works wonders on the red dirt.
Now go teach your own twins the Costa Crusher, that fast-falling
boulder inside-out forehand. Ole!
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