Ferrero upsets Kuerten

Kuerten - only second clay defeat this year

Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero has beaten top seed Gustavo Kuerten in a five-set battle in the final of the Italian Open.

Ferrero, nicknamed 'The Mosquito', was seemingly on his way out after losing two of the first three sets, but he rallied to take the match 3-6 6-1 2-6 6-4 6-2 against the reigning French Open champion.

The win - the biggest of Ferrero's young career - means he has now won four titles in 2001, more than any other player on the men's circuit.

And it makes him a decent bet for the final event of the mens' clay court season - the French Open at Roland Garros later this month.

This has been a very special week for me because it is my first victory in the Masters Series

  Juan Carlos Ferrero

Kuerten will remain the favourite for the event, although he will now know that there are players capable of staying the distance with him.

Playing in his first Masters Series finals, the eighth-seeded Ferrero kept cool as the match reached its climax while Kuerten seemed to run out of steam.

The Brazilian, the number one seed, made an electric start, racing to a 5-1 lead and eventually taking the first set 6-3 in the blazing sunshine.

But the second set was a different story, with Ferrero taking advantage of an apparent lack of concentration by his opponent, whose serve lost its accuracy.

Ferrero, by contrast, produced some superb tennis in the second set. One shot through his legs, which forced Kuerten to net, was applauded even by the Brazilian.

But the Brazilian rallied, winning the third set as his serve caused problems for his opponent.

I am very happy with my form but I have to give the credit to my opponent here today. He played very well.

  Gustavo Kuerten

Yet the Spaniard's resolve was shown when he finally broke the French Open champion in the seventh game of the fourth set, after missing earlier opportunities.

Serving for the fourth set at 5-4 Ferrero made two unforced errors to trail 15-30 but then closed out the set to take the match to a decider.

And Ferrero pressed home his advantage by breaking Kuerten in the first game of the final set, when Kuerten's attempted drop volley drifted wide.

Ferrero broke Kuerten again in the seventh game and the served out to win 6-2 and the $400,000 first prize.

"It was a very special week," Ferrero said. "I hope to do again next year."

It was the players' first meeting since Kuerten beat Ferrero in a gruelling five-set semi-final at last year's French Open on his way to a second Paris title.

Ferrero, who had already won three smaller tournaments this year, including an impressive showing last month on Barcelona's clay, has now won 11 straight matches.

The loss ended a 10-match winning streak for Kuerten, who won the last Masters Series showdown in Monte Carlo.