Kuerten chases rare French 'trick'

Steve Keating

Gustavo Kuerten guns for a landmark third French Open crown on Sunday when he takes on Spain's Alex Corretja looking to become only the sixth man to rack up a hat-trick of Roland Garros crowns.

But Corretja will be in no mood to play a supporting role as he attempts to bury the memories of his nightmare performance in the 1998 final against compatriot Carlos Moya.

The task of toppling undisputed claycourt king Kuerten will without doubt be a mammoth one, but Corretja would still rather chance his arm on the Parisian red clay than face the Brazilian in a popularity contest.

For if the season's second Grand Slam were decided by those watching in the stands and not the two men on court, the mop-topped Brazilian would already be in possession of his third French crown.

Parisians have had an ongoing love affair with the world number one ever since he first burst on the Roland Garros scene in 1997, becoming the second lowest ranked player at number 66 to ever win a Grand Slam.

The 24-year-old Kuerten's boyish grin and antics have charmed his Parisian audiences, who have embraced the Brazilian's joie de vivre.

Guga, as Kuerten is known to his legion of fans, endeared himself even more to the Parisian crowd in the fourth round, when, after beating American qualifier Michael Russell in five sets, he sketched a giant heart in the clay, fell to his knees and blew kisses to the crowd thanking them for their support.

"GREAT MOMENTS"

"For me it is always a pleasure to come out here," said Kuerten, who has not lost a match at Roland Garros since reaching the quarter-finals in 1999. "Even at the beginning, first or second round, when I played there (Centre Court) it can be the greatest moments in your life.

"Even last Sunday, even though I was frustrated, I turned the match around and got one of my best feelings ever on a court.

"Every time I go out there, I have had enough great feelings to feel comfortable."

The affable Corretja, on the other hand, is in danger of becoming public enemy number one at Roland Garros, having ended French hopes in the semifinals with a straight sets win over Sebastien Grosjean.

The 27-year-old Catalan has disposed of the last nine French players he has faced and holds a record of 36-6 against Frenchmen.

Corretja's record against Kuerten, however, is not nearly as impressive.

The 13th seeded Spaniard won the first two meetings with the Brazilian but the top seed swept the next four, including a 6-2, 6-3 win at this year's Masters Series stop in Rome.

"That was in Rome, always in Rome and this is Roland Garros," offered an excited Corretja. "I hope it's going to be a different story.

"I'm very happy we're in Paris.

"Guga has won the tournament twice, so it is normal that the crowd will be a little more on his side. But there will be Spaniards in the crowd and I think the support will be more even."

POLAR OPPOSITES

While the flamboyant Brazilian and reserved Spaniard are polar opposites in temperament, very little separates them on court, both having advanced to the final in impressive fashion.

Corretja was sluggish out of the gates, needing five tough sets to slip past Argentine Mariano Zabaleta in his tournament opener.

But that would be the only stumble the consummate Spanish claycourter would make, advancing the rest of the way without dropping a set.

"This will be different (from the 1998 final)," assured Corretja, still searching for his first tournament win of the season. "At that time it was my first final against a friend (Moya).

"Maybe I wasn't too focused on that match, I was thinking maybe it was going to be the same win or lose.

"But two days later, I realised how bad it was losing."

Kuerten also received one major scare on his way to the final, his cardiac moment coming in the fourth round when he found himself two-sets and match point down to American qualifier Michael Russell before resurrecting his title hopes with a gritty comeback worthy of a champion.

By far Kuerten's most impressive effort was his last, brushing past co-favourite and fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 in a semifinal showdown between the season's two top claycourters.

"I think I had enough experience from the last couple of years on the Tour, especially here at the French, to make myself comfortable on the court," said Kuerten, who can make a small bit of French Open history with a win in the final.

He can become only the sixth man and the first since Swede Mats Wilander in 1983, 1985 and 1988 to collect three French Open titles.

"I feel like I'm playing my best tennis," the Brazilian said.

"I cannot wish to play any better than this."