TOKYO (AP) — David Ferrer of Spain overpowered France’s Richard Gasquet 6-1, 6-2 Sunday to win the Japan Open for his third title of the year.
Top-seeded Ferrer was in control from the outset at Ariake Colosseum, breaking Gasquet in the first game of a match that lasted just 52 minutes.
"Maybe Richard was a little tired because he played last week," said Ferrer. "I’m very happy to win this tournament and just want to enjoy the moment."
In the doubles championship, Australian Jordan Kerr and Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt defeated Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., and his Australian partner Stephen Huss 6-4, 6-4.
For Ferrer, it was his third title of the 2007. The 25-year-old also won titles this year in Auckland, New Zealand and Bastad, Sweden.
Ferrer became the tournament’s top-seeded player after World No. 1 and defending champion Roger Federer pulled out of the US$832,000 event because he needed to rest after the U.S. Open and Davis Cup.<
Gasquet won the Mumbai Open the previous week but was no match for Ferrer, who had seven aces.
"I was pretty tired," said Gasquet. "It’s tough when you have to play against a guy like David, who rarely misses his shots."
Fifth-seeded Virginie Razzano of France won the women’s event Saturday, beating American Venus Williams 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
Ferrer, ranked No. 8, improved to 2-0 against Gasquet, ranked 13th. The last time the two players met was in 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany.
"He’s a completely different player now," said Gasquet. "He’s playing very well now. He broke me in the first game and I was never able to recover."