Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero dispatched Martin Verkerk in straight sets this afternoon to win French Open and claim his first Grand Slam crown. Ferrero defeated the unseeded Dutchman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in 2hr 9min.
The 23-year-old clay court specialist succeeded fellow Spaniard Albert Costa, who beat him in last year's final, after neutralising the powerful serving of Verkerk, a 24-year-old who was playing in his first ever French Open.
Prior to the event, Verkerk had never won a single Grand Slam match.
The gulf in experience showed on a sunny but blustery Philippe Chatrier Centre Court on which Ferrero quickly got down to business, breaking his nervous rival in the first game on his first break point. He broke again for a 4-1 lead and wrapped up the first set in 35min.
The pair traded early breaks in the second set but Ferrero broke again for a 5-3 lead and served out before capturing the misfiring Verkerk serve once more in the third game of the third set.
He then raced to 5-2 and completed a one-sided victory with a raging forehand which ripped past a statuesque Verkerk.
Ferrero, the sixth Spanish champion here and Davis Cup winner in 2000, collapsed onto the clay, then raised his arms - and raced into the stands, climbing up to embrace his entourage.
Ferrero wins €840,000 euros for his win while Verkerk takes home €440,000.