HAMBURG, Germany – A master on clay these last few weeks,
Juan Carlos Ferrero lost in the final of the German Open on Sunday,
a five-set defeat that ended the season's longest winning streak.
Qualifier Albert Portas captured his first title, winning 4-6,
6-2, 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 in a match between Spaniards leading to the
French Open.
|  | | Albert Portas became the second Spanish qualifier to win the German Open. Roberto Carretero was the first in 1996. |
"It was unbelievable, the most incredible experience in my
life," Portas said. "It was a beautiful match."
Ferrero had won 16 straight matches, the best on the tour this
year, and was going after his third straight title.
He had won in Barcelona and then at the Italian Open last week.
At Hamburg, he was trying to become the first man to win two of the
top clay events in consecutive weeks.
He also could have become only the sixth man to win the two
tournament in the same year. The last to do so was another
Spaniard, Manuel Orantes, in 1972.
Ferrero has risen to No. 2 in the Champions Race, which
determines the No. 1 spot at the end of the year.
Rome and Hamburg are part of the Masters Series, the top nine
tournaments after the Grand Slams.
"My first title, my first Masters Series," Portas said.
"Hamburg will be forever in my heart now. It was the best day in
my life."
A tiring Ferrero lost in 3 hours, 36 minutes. Still, he goes
into the French Open, which starts May 28, as one of the most
formidable players.
After dropping the second set, Ferrero won the next nine games
for a 3-0 lead in the fourth, only to be undone by sloppy serving.
"When I had 3-0 in the fourth, I thought I'd won," he said.
"I played nine incredible games and then maybe I relaxed a bit too
much. I lost the set, I lost my confidence and I was tired."
Portas was just hoping to win a game again.
"When I did, and then broke serve, the match changed," he
said.
Portas, who has an effective drop shot, should have won the
fourth set earlier. He wasted four break points in the seventh
game, losing it after making two wild forehands errors on what
should have been easy winners.
He had just broken back and had he used one of his four
opportunities, Portas would have been up a break.
Portas went 6-5 up when Ferrero served two straight double
faults, saved two breaks points and again produced a double fault.
But Portas was unable to serve out the set and needed a tiebreaker,
which ended with Ferrero hitting another double fault.
In the fifth, Portas broke to lead 5-3 but hit a forehand long
to lose the next game as he served for the match. Portas won the
match when Ferrero's backhand sailed long and wide.
Portas, No. 38 in the Champions Race, earned $400,000 and
Ferrero received $211,000.
Portas became the second Spanish qualifier to win the German
Open, following Roberto Carretero in 1996.
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ALSO SEE
Sunday's results
Ferrero crushes buddy Costa to reach Hamburg final
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