Rome 2001: Ferrero's First ATP Masters 1000

The 2001 Internazionali BNL d'Italia proved to be a very special and revealing edition at the Foro Itálico. In the crucible of the Campo Centrale, one of the biggest stages on the ATP Tour, an emerging Juan Carlos Ferrero sent a resounding message to the world.

The Spaniard left the venue with the trophy, one of the most coveted in the world, but he was now more than just the newly crowned champion of Rome; he was a player who was convinced he could reach the top.

In a titanic clash, his baptism of fire in an ATP Masters 1000 final, Ferrero demonstrated a formidable ability to absorb pressure on clay. At just 21, the Valencia native stared down the impossible, hanging on for five nerve-wracking sets against World No. 1 and defending Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten.

Coming through such an ordeal unscathed was a near miracle that would bolster the confidence of the rapidly emerging young player.

"The first Masters 1000 was very special because I beat Kuerten,” Ferrero told ATPTour.com. "Gustavo was practically the biggest clay specialist. Above all in Rome, a tournament he usually did very well at.”

The Spaniard's words on the legend from Florianopolis are more than justified. He was the 1999 champion in the Foro Italico and reached the final in 2000 and 2001. If anyone dominated a territory in those years, the Brazilian certainly did when he stepped onto Italian soil.

"I remember that it was a very intense match where I felt the nerves of being able to win my first final,” said Ferrero.

As World No. 9, under the huge pressure of expectation on his young shoulders, Ferrero twice came back from a set down against the supposed favourite.

"I was confident that I was physically in better shape than him, and I hoped to be feeling good in the fifth set. I tried to make the match last as long as I could,” said Ferrero. "I felt really confident I'd win my first Masters 1000 and that's what happened. It was a high-quality match and it really gave me a lot of confidence [for] many tournaments in the future.”

Ferrero's destiny was the product of years of hard work. Despite the impression of immaturity, the apparent newcomer had already earned himself plenty of experience. In December 2000, months before winning in Rome, he led Spain to the first Davis Cup in its history. That epic moment, when he broke through a national barrier, allowed him to set his sights on any target.

"I'd been playing very difficult matches in the Davis Cup and I gained a lot of experience from them,” said Ferrero, whose victory over the Australian Lleyton Hewitt, an epic moment in Spanish sport, unleased the delirium of fans in the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.

"Playing in those kinds of situations helped me be able to win a final like that against Gustavo Kuerten. One of the best ever on clay,” said Ferrero. "Winning a tournament like Rome changes you in the sense that you believe in your chances of winning big things. You know how to cope with difficult moments on court. Even more so after winning a difficult final."

Ferrero's growth would leave no room for doubt, as he would go on to become one of the most consistent players in the early years of the 21st century.

"Between 2001 and 2003, I did particularly well on this swing,” said Ferrero, the only player who managed to play in Masters 1000 finals on clay in all three of those seasons.

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With his attacking game, built on his huge forehand from the baseline, the Valencian broke the mould on a surface that was normally very tactical.

"On clay I was a very aggressive player, I basically played the same as on fast courts, very high up the court,” said Ferrero, who went from taking the crown in Dubai to picking up trophies on clay in Estoril, Barcelona and Rome in a handful of weeks.

"I felt like the hot favourite at those kinds of tournaments. In the end, I managed to believe in myself and that's how the results came. At that time I was playing well and was very fit. I took the opportunity to try and win as many tournaments as possible,” said Ferrero, who won 10 of his 16 career titles between 2001 and 2003, a time in which he reached World No. 1 and lifted his only Grand Slam title on clay at Roland Garros.

With a victory that stunned fans in the Campo Centrale, Ferrero’s triumph still holds a special place in the collective memory almost 20 years later. It is a moment that is not easily forgotten.

"Rome is very special,” said Ferrero. “The city is fantastic, the tournament generates a great atmosphere. The facilities at the event, with the statues surrounding some of the courts, create a unique atmosphere. The organisation is always spectacular. The language means you can communicate with everyone and as you are so close to home, it's pretty special. A Masters 1000 is always different, but being able to win my first in the Foro Italico was unforgettable".

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2WR9bGu