ATP CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE CROWNED IN SHANGHAI

Hewitt and Ferrero: the final clash of the season

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Now that the final ATP tour match of the year is set between No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt against No. 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, it's worth taking a look ahead at the encounter.

The biggest question surrounding Hewitt is whether he has the stamina to go one more match to end the year with a culminating grand finish? Hewitt, who earned his spot in the final with a tough 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 semifinal win over talented Swiss Roger Federer, is going for a fifth title of the year. But while the feisty Australian claimed his first Wimbledon victory in July, much of the year he has been under the weather with a virus that seems to be the remnants of a case of chicken pox back in January.

The biggest question surrounding Ferrero is whether he can handle the pressure of a big match situation better than he did in the Roland Garros final last June? Ferrero, who moved into the Masters Cup final courtesy of a 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spanish countryman Carlos Moya in the semis, is widely acclaimed as a sensational young talent. But as the favorite against Albert Costa at Roland Garros in June, he visibly crumbled before spectators' eyes.

It would be hard to deny that Hewitt, the Tennis Masters Cup defending champion, has the clear advantage in this upcoming final.

The 21-year-old will tell you time and again "I hate to lose" and that competitive spirit looms like a 12 ft. brick wall in front of opponents. He heads into the final knowing that since he's held the No. 1 position steadily since Nov. 19, he becomes one of only four players since the advent of the computer rankings to reign supreme for an entire year, joining Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras in that distinction.

VIRUS SLOWED HIS YEAR
Nevertheless, Hewitt will tell you that he put everything he had into laying claim to Wimbledon, the title he most dreamed about winning as a child, and that since that time his energy level has been drained from a virus that doesn't seem to go away. His summer hard court season in the States produced no titles and he went out to Andre Agassi in the semifinals at the US Open. His journey towards Shanghai left Hewitt disappointed as well, losing in the quarterfinals at Tokyo, the second round in Stockholm and the final at the TMS-Paris.

When asked as to how he might fare in the final, Hewitt said, "Don't know. Good question. Your guess is probably as good as mine. Obviously I'm a little bit tired, but to tell you the truth, I'm not quite sure how I got through the last couple of matches. They were very physically demanding and I think I went through the pain barrier there a couple of times against both those guys. I've survived two tough matches. One to go."

If Ferrero is going to have a chance in this indoor final, he is going to have to try and take advantage of Hewitt's fatigue to garner a psychological edge in the match. That would not only require that Hewitt is truly feeling as tired as he says, but that Ferrero can dig deep to find a self-assuredness that doesn't seem to be there for him in the big matches – remember the French Open, JC?

ONE MORE VICTORY WOULD CAP SPANIARD'S YEAR
As for Ferrero, the No. 1 ranked Spanish player, a Tennis Masters Cup title would be his third title of 2002. He won the TMS-Monte Carlo trophy on his favorite clay surface in the spring, but the big psychological boost came when he won his second career hard court trophy at Hong Kong this fall, another occasion where he defeated Moya. His recent comfort level on hard courts should provide a cushion for Ferrero, who grew up slip sliding on the red clay that is prevalent in Spain.

"I'm really happy to be the first time in the final (at the Tennis Masters Cup)," Ferrero said after ousting Moya, who came out of the round robin portion of the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record. "I'm the same player as two months ago on hard court, but finally I could play my tennis, my good tennis on this surface. I'm really happy for that and I hope that in the next year I'm going to try to give my best also in hard court, not only in this tournament."

Ferrero needs to remember not to be focusing on giving his best next year, but giving his best against Hewitt since that could bring him the year-end title. He's also has to remember that a Top 5 player is supposed to possess confidence in all situations, an area where he seems to always be a little lean. Even if Hewitt is bushed, if he senses early on that Ferrero is nervous and feeling vulnerable, the lanky Spaniard will be cooked almost before the match begins.

In order to win the match, Ferrero has to try and jump out to an early lead and then steadily work that lead through to match point. He is no stranger to victory against Hewitt since he stands at 2-2 with the Australian, but he lost both encounters on hard courts, winning the two that came on clay.

When all is said and done, Hewitt is the horse to bet on in this match. Despite the illness that has plagued him all season, he has come through in the moments that are most important to him this year and ending 2002 on a high note by defending his Tennis Masters Cup title will only help him enjoy his No. 1 status even more.