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It`s Spain Vs. Netherlands in French Open men`s final
Paris, June 07: Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands will meet Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the men`s final of the French Open in Paris after straight-set semi-final victories on Friday (June 6).
Paris, June 07: Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands will meet Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the men's final of the French Open in Paris after straight-set semi-final victories on Friday (June 6).
Verkerk became only the third Dutchman to reach a grand slam final when he beat seventh-seeded Argentine Guillermo Coria 7-6 6-4 7-6 while Ferrero beat compatriot and defending champion Albert Costa 6-3 7-6 6-4.
Without a single grand slam victory coming into Roland Garros, unseeded Verkerk's showing here has been little short of miraculous. Not since Richard Krajicek won Wimbledon in 1996 had a Dutch player reached the final of a grand slam. The only other was Tom Okker who was runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1968.
Ranked 46th in the world, Verkerk will face third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in Sunday's final. In the match, Coria escaped disqualification after he hurled his racket and it hit a ballgirl.
The seventh seed had just lost the opening set tiebreak against unseeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk when he slung his racket in disgust to the back of the court. It flew several metres at head height and grazed the girl, named by organisers only as Perinne.
Coria immediately threw his hands in the air and looked to French chair umpire Cedric Mourier as the French crowd jeered and whistled. Mourier came down from his chair and both he and a grand slam supervisor asked the girl is she was alright.
Coria took off his shirt and handed it to the 16-year-old before holding his hands together at chest height and asking if she was okay.
An International Tennis Federation spokesman said Coria could have been disqualified for the incident but that officials could use their discretion. Instead he was given an official warning and allowed to continue the semi-final.
Britain's Tim Henman was thrown out of the Wimbledon doubles in 1995 when he struck a ballgirl with a ball hit in anger. Henman and partner Jeremy Bates were immediately disqualified and Henman was later fined 3,000 USD.
In the second set, Verkerk and Coria exchanged breaks of serve before Verkerk broke again in the tenth game to take the set 6-4.
There was a break each again the the third leading to a tiebreak which was decided by a double-fault from Coria to give Verkerk victory after 2 hours, 40 minutes of play.
Costa, seeded nine, had recovered from two sets down to win three times already in the tournament but another comeback proved beyond him.
Ferrero dominated the first set, recovered from 5-3 down in the second to snatch it on a tiebreak and outmanoeuvred Costa in the third to move to within one victory of his maiden grand slam triumph.
Bureau Report
Coria immediately threw his hands in the air and looked to French chair umpire Cedric Mourier as the French crowd jeered and whistled. Mourier came down from his chair and both he and a grand slam supervisor asked the girl is she was alright.
Coria took off his shirt and handed it to the 16-year-old before holding his hands together at chest height and asking if she was okay.
An International Tennis Federation spokesman said Coria could have been disqualified for the incident but that officials could use their discretion. Instead he was given an official warning and allowed to continue the semi-final.
Britain's Tim Henman was thrown out of the Wimbledon doubles in 1995 when he struck a ballgirl with a ball hit in anger. Henman and partner Jeremy Bates were immediately disqualified and Henman was later fined 3,000 USD.
In the second set, Verkerk and Coria exchanged breaks of serve before Verkerk broke again in the tenth game to take the set 6-4.
There was a break each again the the third leading to a tiebreak which was decided by a double-fault from Coria to give Verkerk victory after 2 hours, 40 minutes of play.
Costa, seeded nine, had recovered from two sets down to win three times already in the tournament but another comeback proved beyond him.
Ferrero dominated the first set, recovered from 5-3 down in the second to snatch it on a tiebreak and outmanoeuvred Costa in the third to move to within one victory of his maiden grand slam triumph.
Bureau Report