David Ferrer beat Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-3 to win the Paris Masters on Sunday, clinching the first Masters title of his career and a tour-leading seventh trophy of the season.
The fourth-seeded Spaniard lost his three previous Masters finals twice to Rafael Nadal and once to Andy Murray but this time he didn’t have a Grand Slam winner in front of him and never looked in real danger, although he did lose his serve early in the second set.
Ferrer collapsed to the floor and held his head in his hands after securing victory on his first match point when Janowicz’s two-handed backhand was wide. Ferrer’s seven titles this season is one more than Roger Federer, who did not defend his title in Paris.
“I was very nervous because it was my chance to win a first Masters title but somehow I knew it was my turn,” Ferrer said. “To me this is a dream to win here. If I won it’s because I have a great team.”
The 69-ranked Janowicz made an incredible run to the final, eliminating five top-20 ranked players in a row. But this time his mighty serve let him down.
“Again, I slept only four hours last night. I’m not a machine. I’m proud of myself,” Janowicz said. “This has been an incredible week. I would like to thank my family, my fans here and all my supporters back home.”
In the fourth game of the match, the entertaining Janowicz hit a booming serve of 242 kilometres per hour (150 mph) and drew cheers from the crowd at the Bercy arena when he followed up an extravagant drop shot with a spectacular volley winner.
Ferrer, who saved 10 break points in the first set in his semi-final against Michael Llodra, was briefly troubled in the ninth game when Janowicz forced the first break point of the match, but the Pole wasted it after hitting an unforced error into net.
In the next game, Janowicz saved one break point with an ace, before gifting Ferrer another chance with a double-fault. Ferrer converted it when Janowicz’s loose forehand went long.
Janowicz started the second set brightly and broke Ferrer in the third game. The Spaniard’s forehand was called in and Janowicz challenged it, drawing a huge roar when the big screen showed it landing out and prompting a beaming smile from the Pole, who has thrilled crowds all week with his cavalier style of play.
The advantage was shortlived as Ferrer broke back in the next game for 2-2, with Janowicz’s errant forehand again to blame as he swiped the ball long.
Ferrer saved two break points in the next game and then broke Janowicz again to take control of the match at 4-2.
