Fererro v Gonzalez: Hold onto your hats!
By Georges Homsi
Tuesday, June 3, 2003
Fernando 'Speedy' Gonzalez may not be a household name, but his awesome
displays of explosive hitting have certainly left an indelible impression
on all those who have seen him in action so far at Roland-Garros. And who
knows - if the Chilean keeps on slugging away with the unerring precision
and power he has shown to date, he might even trouble the favourite for
this year's French Open, Juan-Carlos Ferrero in Wednesday's quarter final.
Finalist last year, the Spaniard has been in imperious form so far, able to
perform well within himself and still stroll to the last eight.
CURRENT FORM
Ever since he saved a match point against Olivier Mutis in the Hamburg Masters
Series, Fernando Gonzalez has been a man transformed. His newfound self-
confidence has enabled him to unleash his frightening forehand to devastating
effect at Roland-Garros. Spaniard Albert Portas has been the only player
courageous enough to take a set off the man with the ballistic forehand - and
he was soon punished for his impudence. Monday's quickfire destruction of
fighting Finn Jarkko Nieminen was particularly impressive, especially as it
was Gonzalez' first appearance on Philippe Chatrier Court.
Juan Carlos Ferrero, meanwhile, continues on his merry way. These past few
years the early rounds here have tended to resemble exhibition matches for the
third seed, and so it has proved again this year. Winner in Monte-Carlo for
the second consecutive year, the clay court supremo had to withdraw from Rome
to rest his shoulder 퀠a cautionary move that certainly seems to have paid off
so far. As usual, the ball has been disappearing to all corners from his
trademark forehand. Felix Mantilla, a clay court specialist himself was
dismissed in the last round, and Ferrero has only lost one set all tournament,
to Tim Henman in a match where he was rarely troubled.
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES
To play Fernando 'Speedy' Gonzalez is to subject your tennis racket to a
thrashing and a half - if you get anywhere near the ball that is. Give him
a bit of room to wind up that forehand and more likely than not you'll be
watching the ball fizz past you before you can move an inch. His serve is
equally frightening - even his second delivery, which he tends to hit hard
at the expense of the odd double fault here and there. His backhand can sizzle
too, but is a less reliable weapon than his forehand. Like all court bullies,
Gonzalez needs large doses of confidence to dish out his punishment - and that
has certainly been the case these past few weeks - so the key to success for
Ferrero lies in instilling an element of self-doubt into his game.
Ferrero's lesson in tennis, handed out free of charge to Felix Mantilla in the
quarter final, had most observers shaking their heads in admiration. His game
was near-perfection; a subtle blend of quick feet, impeccable shot selection
and tactical awareness. His topspin drive is a joy to watch and nightmare to
play, his drop shot so well disguised it dies on opponents before they have
time to move. Coach Antonio Martinez has his man perfectly focussed and primed
for a serious assault on the title.
Gonzalez, despite all his power and gusto should succumb.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS: GONZALEZ 2-0
2002 US Open (hard) 3R GONZALEZ 6-4 6-4 6-4
2002 Basle (indoor) Semi final GONZALEZ 6-4 4-6 6-1
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