Juan Carlos Ferrero struggled for more than four hours to win a classic battle between baseliners, beating fellow Spaniard Carlos Moya 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to win the one-million-dollar Barcelona Open today.
The 21-year-old third seed, last year's losing finalist to Russian Marat Safin, joined Andre Agassi and Gustavo Kuerten as a three-time winner this year on the ATP having already won in Dubai and Estoril.
The marathon was not decided until the end with momentum shifts aplenty on the red clay.
Ferrero, who burst onto the scene last year reaching the French Open semi-finals and inspiring Spain to their Davis Cup Final triumph over holders Australia, only sealed the match after 1998 French Open champion Moya had saved two match points in the 12th game of the final set.
Ferrero finally benefitted as Moya, who has not won a title since Estoril last year, double-faulted to yield a third match-winning opportunity.
Ferrero then claimed victory in 4hrs 6min when his 11th-seeded opponent slammed an overhead into the net. -AFP