Juan Carlos Ferrero finally won his first title since 2003 and overcame his almost six-year title drought. The win gives Ferrero his 12th ATP title and moves him into the ATP top 100. The Spaniard bested Frenchmen Florent Serra 6-4 7-5 to capture the Casablanca title. This win was also Ferrero’s first win over Serra, who had a 2-0 record over the Spaniard.

There were 10 service breaks in the entire match, so it was a race to see which player could break and hold serve consecutively. Ferrero broke Serra in the first game of the match, and Serra broke back immediately. After a series of breaks, Ferrero turned up the heat in the tenth game and held at love for the set.

In the second set, both players held serve for the first couple of games. This time Serra struck first in game four, but Ferrero broke back and held to tie the set at 3-3. Serra stepped up his attacks on Ferrero’s second serve and was aggressive to keep the counterpuncher on his heels. After another series of breaks, Ferrero turned it up again to break Serra in game 11. He then held serve to win the set, the match and the title.

Doubles top-seeds Lukasz Kubot and Olivier Marach beat Simon Aspelin and Paul Hanley 7-6(4) 3-6 10-6 for the doubles championship title. This is the first ATP doubles title for the World No. 4 team.

Saturday’s Schedule
Singles Semifinals
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 1 Igor Andreev (RUS) 7-6(9) 6-3
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. 3 Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Championship
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. 2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 7-6(4) 3-6 10-6

Sunday’s Match
Singles Championship
5 Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

Sunday’s Schedule of Play

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Juan Carlos Ferrero pulled out a tight match against top-seed Igor Andreev. He upset the Russian 7-6(9) 6-3. The two players traded two breaks apiece in the first set, and then Ferrero was able to squeak by Andreev in the tiebreaker. There were no breaks in the second set until Ferrero broke Andreev in the eighth game. He was able to hold serve for the set and the match.

Ferrero now advances to the final against fifth-seed Florent Serra, who upset Spaniard Albert Montanes earlier. Serra leads Ferrero 2-0 in their head-to-head matchup. Their last meeting was this year on the hard surfaces of Brisbane, and the other meeting was at ‘s-Hertogenbosch on grass. This will be their first meeting on clay. For Ferrero, this will be his first final since Auckland in 2008. Should he win, it will be his first title since his 2003 ATP Masters Series Madrid title.

After his 2003 French Open win and 2003 US Open final appearance, Ferrero’s career has been plagued with injuries. It all started when Spaniard came down with the chicken pox after a trip to the 2004 Australian Open semifinals. After being off the tour for two months, he fell during practice injuring his rib and wrist in May 2003. From there his year was shot, and he went from being ranked world number 2 to world number 31. In the years 2005-2007, he played more consistently and was able to end each year ranked somewhere within the top twenty-five.

For 2008, the last half of the year was marred with injuries (muscles, leg, and shoulder), which caused him to sit out most of the late summer. Ferrero retired from a second-round Wimbledon match and missed Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open. This year, he sat out two months after suffering a leg injury in Argentina. His ranking has suffered since he has not consistently played in the last calendar year, and he is now ranked 115.

Tomorrow’s final appearance will move the Spaniard within the top 100, and a win will move his ranking to the 70s range. Win or lose tomorrow, let’s hope he is able to play consistently for the rest of the year.

(Image: El Khiat)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. WC John Isner (USA) 7-5 3-6 7-6(5)
Bjorn Phau (GER) def. WC Tommy Haas (GER) 6-3 3-6 6-3
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) def. Guillermo Canas (ARG) 2-6 6-3 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-3 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) 7-5 6-7(5) 10-4
WC J. Levine (USA)/R. Sweeting (USA) def. 2. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) 3-6 6-3 10-4

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
Bjorn Phau (GER) vs. Wayne Odesnik (USA)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Doubles Final
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. WC J. Levine (USA)/R. Sweeting (USA)

After previously having two drag-out matches, Igor Andreev took less than an hour disposing of Marc Gicquel. He bested the Frenchman 6-1 6-3. Andreev will now face the former world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semifinals.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. 6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-1 6-3
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 7-6(5) 6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 7-5
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-0 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE) 6-2 4-6 12-10

Saturday’s Schedule
Singles Semifinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. 5 Florent Serra (FRA)

Doubles Final
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. 2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS)

Saturday’s Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Victor Hanescu of Romania 6-3 7-5 and won in pretty convincing fashion. The Spaniard was broken once in the first set and faced no break points in the second set.

On the other end, Hanescu was broken three times in the first set and had to fight off 5 break points in the second set. If you give someone that many chances, they are going to eventually to take advantage you. Ferrero’s persistence finally paid off when he broke Hanescu for the set and the match after Hanescu was up 40-0 in the last game of the second set.

I had a chance to watch the second set. Sometimes players return from injury and do not look so well, but Ferrero looked like he was in good form. He moved well and looked like the old “Mosquito.” Being a baseliner, Ferrero was often drawn in by Hanescu’s dropshots. Ferrero had no problem running down dropshots from the baseline and coming up with winners at the net. His groundstrokes were solid, and he was really pushing Hanescu around on the court.

Ferrero advances to the semifinal where he awaits the winner of the Andreev-Gicquel match. Ferrero leads Andreev 3-1 in the their head-to head matchup, with the Spaniard winning their last three meetings. In the other matchup, Gicquel leads Ferrero 1-0.

(image: Grand Prix Hassan II)

Top-seed Igor Andreev has really battled his way through the last two rounds. First, he had a tight match with hometown favorite Rabie Chaki. Today, he had a drag-out fight with Frenchman Nicolas Devilder. In the end, Andreev prevailed 6-7(11) 7-6(5) 6-4 after 197 minutes of play. There were no breaks of serve in the first set, and they traded breaks in the second set. Andreev eventually broke Devilder and held in the final set for the win.

Andreev will meet sixth-seed Marc Gicquel in the quarterfinals. Andreev currently leads their head-to-head 2-1, where all of the Russian’s wins were on hard surfaces. Gicquel’s only victory over Andreev was on clay in Bucharest in 2007.

Thursday's Results
Singles Second Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def Nicolas Devilder (FRA) 6-7(11) 7-6(5) 6-4
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3 6-3
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 7-5
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE) def 4 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) 6-4 6-3
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-4 4-6 10-6

Doubles Semifinals
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. 3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) 7-5 6-2

Friday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. 6 Marc Gicquel (FRA)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
4 Victor Hanesco (ROU) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
5 Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)

Doubles Semifinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE)

Friday’s Order of Play

(Image: El Khiat)

Juan Carlos Ferrero did it again. He beat Potito Starace 6-4 7-6(1) and now has advanced into the quarterfinals to play Victor Hanescu, who beat Ivan Navarro in straight sets. The two players have never played in an ATP event. Let’s hope there are no surprises in the next round.

Federico Gil rallied to beat Ivan Ljubicic 5-7 6-3 7-5. The Portuguese troublemaker gave Rafael Nadal a run for his money in the first set of their Indian Wells match. He is currently enjoying a career-high ATP ranking of 70 and will face Albert Montanes in the next round. The two have yet to meet in an ATP event.

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Santiago Ventura (ESP) 5-7 6-3 7-5
4 Victor Hanesco (ROU) def. Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-1 6-0
Frederico Gil (POR) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-7(2) 7-5 6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-4 7-6(1)

Doubles Second Round
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. N. Devilder (FRA)/C. Rochus (BEL) 7-5 6-4
L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) def. WC R. Chaki (MAR)/R. El Amrani (MAR) 6-7(6) 6-3 10-2
A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. WC M. Saber (MAR)/M. Ziadi (MAR) 6-4 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. T. Bellucci (BRA)/E. Butorac (USA) 6-3 6-3
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) def. F. Gil (POR)/H. Tecau (ROU) 7-6(3) 6-2

Thursday's Matches
Singles Second Round
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Marc Gicquel (FRA)
Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Nicolas Devilder (FRA)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Olivier Rochus (BEL)
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)

Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE)
L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP)

Doubles Semifinals
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) vs. 2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS)

Thursday's Order of Play

(Image: El Khiat)

Juan Carlos Ferrero successfully returned to the circuit after being sidelined with a leg injury for six weeks. He beat the seventh-seeded Christophe Rochus 6-2 6-3 after just 61 minutes of play. Up next for the Spaniard is Potito Starace from Italy. Ferrero currently leads their head-to-head 3-1, but Starace won their last meeting in Rome in 2007.

Unlike Ferrero, Igor Andreev had a more difficult time overcoming a wild card. He had to rally in three sets to beat Rabie Chaki, the hometown favorite 3-6 6-3 7-5. Andreev served for the match at 5-4 in the third set but managed to lose his serve. He persevered and wrapped up the match three games later.

Andreev will play Frenchmen Nicolas Devilder in the next round. The two players have never met in an ATP event.

Tuesday's Results
Singles First Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. WC Rabie Chaki (MAR) 3-6 6-3 7-5
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. 2 Rainer Schulettler (GER) 6-4 7-6(5)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. WC Reda El Amrani (MAR) 6-2 7-5
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. Kristof Vliegen (BEL) 7-5 6-3
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 7 Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. WC Mehdi Ziadi (MAR) 4-6 6-2 6-1
Potito Starace (ITA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 4-6 6-3
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2 6-1
Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. Q Oliver Marach (AUT) 6-1 6-1
Nicolas Devilder (FRA) def. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 6-3 6-4
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Flavio Cipolla (ITA) 6-2 3-6 6-3

Doubles First Round
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) def. Y. Allegro (SUI)/A. Clement (FRA) 7-6(9) 6-3
4 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. F. Cipolla (ITA)/P. Storace* (ITA) 6-4 7-6(2)
T. Bellucci (BRA)/E. Butorac (USA) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/L. Zovko (CRO) 7-6(4) 6-3
F. Gil (POR)/ H. Tecau (ROU) def. M. Gicquel (FRA)/F. Serra (FRA) 5-7 6-4 11-9
*Replaced T. Gabashvili (RUS)/S. Stakhovsky (UKR)

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. Santiago Ventura (ESP)
4 Victor Hanesco (ROU) vs. Ivan Navarro (ESP)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

Doubles First Round
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. N. Devilder (FRA)/C. Rochus (BEL)
WC R. Chaki (MAR)/R. El Amrani (MAR) vs. L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE)
WC M. Saber (MAR)/M. Ziadi (MAR) vs. A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP)

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) vs. T. Bellucci (BRA)/E. Butorac (USA)
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) vs. F. Gil (POR)/H. Tecau (ROU)

Wednesday's Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

Thomaz Bellucci and Sergiy Stakhoysky turned out to be no trouble at all because they both lost today. Federico Gil survived a three setter against Alberto Martin, so he lives to cause trouble another day. He will play Ivan Ljubicic in the next round, who took care of Arnaud Clement in three sets. The two players have never met in an ATP event.

Monday’s Results
Qualifying Third Round
Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. Carlos Poch-Gradin (ESP) 6-3 6-1
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) def. Lamine Ouahab (ALG) 7-6(9) 4-0 Ret’d
Olivier Marach (AUT) def. Olivier Patience (FRA) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-1
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. Boris Pashanki (SRB) 6-1 6-2

Singles First Round
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 8 Arnaud Clement (FRA) 7-6(6) 5-7 6-4
4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) def. Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-4 7-5
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-3
Frederico Gil (POR) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-3 3-6 7-6(4)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 7-5 4-2 Ret’d wrist

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/ P. Hanley (AUS) def. O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) 6-3 6-7(5) 10-6

Tuesday's Matches
Singles First Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. WC Rabie Chaki (MAR)
2 Rainer Schulettler (GER) vs. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. WC Reda El Amrani (MAR)
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) vs. Kristof Vliegen (BEL)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs. WC Mehdi Ziadi (MAR)
Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs.Teimuraz GABASHVILI (RUS)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. 7 Christophe Rochus (BEL)
Santiago Ventura (ESP) vs. Oliver Marach (AUT)
Nicolas Devilder (FRA) vs. Daniel Koellerer (AUT)
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Flavio Cipolla (ITA)

Doubles First Round
J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. T. Gabashvili (RUS)/S. Stakhovsky (UKR)
R. Bopanna (IND)/L/ Zovko (CRO) vs. T. Bellucci/E. Butorac
F. Gil (POR)/ H. Tecau (ROU) vs. M. Gicquel (FRA)/F. Serra(FRA)
Y. Allegro (SUI)/A. Clement (FRA) vs. C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED)

Tuesday's Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

City: Casablanca, Morocco
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Gilles Simon
2008 Doubles Champions: Albert Montanes/Santiago Ventura

Gilles Simon will not defend his title and will take a much needed break from the tour. Igor Andreev and Ivan Ljubicic will most likely fill the void. Juan Carlos Ferrero returns from being out with an injury, so let’s hope he advances deep in the draw because he needs the points. Also, look out for Thomaz Bellucci, Sergiy Stakhovsky and Frederico Gil as possible troublemakers.

On the doubles side, Albert Montanes and Santiago Ventura will defend their doubles title. They will have to contend with the top Euro teams - Kubot/Marach, Kas Wassen, and Aspelin/Hanley.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Matches
Qualifying Third Round
Santiago Ventura (ESP) vs. Carlos Poch-Gradin (ESP)
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) vs. Lamine Ouahab (ALG)
Olivier Patience (FRA) vs. Olivier Marach (AUT)
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) vs. Boris Pashanki (SRB)

Singles First Round
Arnaud Clement (FRA) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Alberto Martin (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

Doubles First Round
O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/ P. Hanley (AUS)

Monday’s Order of Play

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(image: AP)