Paris, June 08: Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain won the French Open men's singles title today, defeating unseeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk 6-1 6-3 6-2 in 2 hr 9 min to snatch his first grand slam crown. The 23-year-old Ferrero succeeded fellow Spaniard Albert Costa, who beat him in last year's final, after neutralising the powerful serving of Verkerk, a 24-year-old who was playing in his first grand slam final and who was also playing in his first ever French Open.

Prior to the event, Verkerk had never won a single grand slam match.

The gulf in experience showed on a sunny but blustery Philippe Chatrier centre court on which Ferrero quickly got down to business, breaking his nervous rival in the first game on his first break point. He broke again for a 4-1 lead and wrapped up the first set in 35 min.

The pair traded early breaks in the second set but Ferrero broke again for a 5-3 lead and served out before capturing the misfiring Verkerk serve once more in the third game of the third set.

He then raced to 5-2 and completed a one-sided victory with a raging forehand which ripped past a statuesque Verkerk.

Bureau Report