from AFP
3 June 2003

PARIS (AFP) – Spanish third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, last year’s runner-up, ripped past 20th-seeded compatriot Felix Mantilla 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s French Open singles.

Ferrero will next meet Chilean 19th seed Fernando Gonzalez, who dished out a similar thrashing to Finnish 30th seed Jarkko Nieminen, whom he dismissed 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.
Ferrero, 23, is still seeking his first Grand Slam title after last year’s final flop to compatriot Albert Costa, who was later up against Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

But having dropped a set in his previous match against British grasscourt specialist Tim Henman, who gave him a brief run for his money, Ferrero hit top gear from the outset against Mantilla, destroying his rival with embarrassing ease in 100 minutes.

If Ferrero had won all of the pair’s six previous encounters he had on those occasions at least had to break into a sweat.

This time, he was quite brutally clinical, squashing Mantilla with five aces, 52 winners and eight breaks of serve, while he gave up his own just once.

“Everything is going pretty well for me right now,” said Ferrero, who is bidding to level Mantilla’s Tour title haul of ten.

“I thought it was a good match for me today,” he added with classic understatement.

Mantilla won the Rome Masters Series title shortly before coming here, beating Costa along the way.

But Ferrero now looks the hottest bet to take the title here.

Mantilla said he was ready for a break after his hiding.

“Juan Carlos played brilliantly. I thought he was different class. I thought he played perfect.

“Well, he does have a good record against me! Now I need a rest, I’ve had a heavy season.”