Ferrero prepared for serving struggle in Bangkok final
BANGKOK (AFP) - Juan Carlos Ferrero underlined his world
Number one status in emphatic fashion as he put down a
brief challenge from Croatian Lvan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-3 to
reach the final of the 550,000-dollar Thailand Open.
With popular local hero Paradorn Srichaphan crashing out
in the quarter-finals, the sympathies of a near-sellout
10,000 crowd Saturday shifted to the shy Spaniard, aiming
to earn his fourth trophy of this season.
This month's U.S. Open finalist and the reigning French
Open champion, will square off against the big serve of
22-year-old American Taylor Dent, a 7-6 (7-3),6-2 winner
over Finn Jarkko Nieminen.
Ferrero said that he is preparing for a serving battle
against Dent -- but it is far from an impossible task
as he aims for a career-first title indoors.
"I'm playing pretty well, I'm surprising myself," he
admitted. "On the first day here I practised pretty
well after a 14-hour flight.
"In the days after, I started to serve well and feel
very confident from the baseline -- I'm doing everything
well."
Dent already holds a second career title from Memphis
in February when he upset Andy Roddick. The American
piled on 11 aces against world Number 29 Nieminen,who
has played four career finals without taking a title.
The Finn flew off the handle with himself a few times
after letting slip whileup a double-break at 3-0 in t
he opening set.
"I'm angry at myself, I should have taken the first
set," said Nieminen. "I had the momentum, and a great
start. You just can't expect more, I felt good at that
moment."
But good things came quickly to an end for the Scandinavian
as Dent got his game into gear and began to turn the tide
as his father, former Australian Open finalist Phil, looked
on.
"I totally lost it, I'm very disappointed," said Nieminen.
"He didn't serve well at the start, that's how I had a chance
to break him. When he started serving better, then my chances
went away."
"I had the perfect start and then I just gave the first set
away. I'm not saying I would have won the match. But I should
have taken the first set."
Dent admitted he had his own problems.
"I came out a bit nervous and rushing," said the American.
"I usually take a long time before I serve, picking out
where I want to go.
"But I was just taking my chances before I settled down.
When I did, I played some good stuff and some lucky stuff
to get back into the set nicely."
The eighth seed finally prevailed over the tournament number
five after Nieminen saved a set point but lost in the tie-
breaker. The second set was one-way traffic for Dent.
news from:http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/030927/323/e9l0d.html
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