Ferrero wins Valencia Open

Ferrero, born just outside Valencia in Onteniente and the top seed at his home-town tournament, broke twice at the start of the match for a 4-0 love lead against the unseeded Belgian.

From then on the result was never in doubt, as Ferrero clinched the first set and moved smoothly into a 4-2 lead in the second to set up an overwhelming victory that completed his record of not having lost a set at the tournament.

It was a second clay-court title of the season for Ferrero, who won the Monte Carlo Masters last month and also reached the semi-finals in Barcelona last week.

The world number three has a lot more work to come, with Masters Series events at Rome and Hamburg in the next two weeks followed by the French Open at the end of the month, and he recognised he would have to watch his fitness.

"I'm making it difficult for myself," said Ferrero. "It is going to be difficult to be at 100 percent for all that time.

"Even now I'm not completely fit. I've still got some problems with my shoulder.

"I'm confident, though. I didn't have to work too hard this week, with all my matches being over in two sets."

Despite being well beaten, Rochus was satisfied after enjoying his most successful week of the season.

"I had four wins over good players and that has given me confidence," he said. "I hope this good run can continue.

"When I fell behind early on I was under pressure and it's very difficult to play Ferrero in that kind of situation. He's the best clay-court player in the world."