Ferrero was in formidable form |
Juan Carlos Ferrero sent a timely reminder to his rivals for the French Open crown on Monday by recording a three-set destruction of Felix Mantilla. The 23-year-old Spaniard delivered a baseline masterclass during his 6-2 6-1 6-1 fourth-round victory over his countryman and world number 20.
The third seed, who was last year's losing finalist, was in unstoppable form and took only 100 minutes to sweep aside a stunned Mantilla.
"To play the rest of the tournament like this would be fantastic," Ferrero said.
Ferrero will meet Fernando Gonzalez in the quarter-finals after the Chilean beat Jarkko Nieminen 6-3 6-3 6-2.
Gonzalez proved there is more to Chilean tennis than Marcelo Rios, needing only 92 minutes to see off his Finnish opponent.
His clash with Ferrero is a rematch of the 1998 boys singles final at Roland Garros which he won 4-6 6-4 6-3.
Gonzalez, who also beat Ferrero twice last year, said: "I remember the boys final well.
 Gonzalez is playing very well - his forehand is very fast, he serves very well and it's going to be difficult |
"It was a long time ago. I was 17. Now I am 22. But it is going to be a very interesting match because Juan Carlos is playing very good tennis and I'm playing well.
"We know that he is one of the best on clay. I have great respect for him as a claycourter. But I'm confident in my game too. It will be a good show for the public."
Gonzalez has one of the biggest forehands in the game and Ferrero commented: "I must try to control the point before he hits the cannonball."
Seventh seed Guillermo Coria made harder work of his fourth round match, dispatching Argentine Mariano Zabaleta in a match lasting nearly five hours.
Coria, a former junior champion here, had been leading two sets to one when the fourth round tie was halted Sunday night because of failing light.
Zabaleta came back to equalise in a fourth set tie-break, forcing a fifth set decider in which Coria excelled.
His win earns him a quarter-final showdown with second seed Andre Agassi.
"I really want to play him because he has always been my hero," said Coria, who at 21 is 12 years younger than Agassi.
"I faced him on hardcourt twice and couldn't do anything.
"Now is my opportunity to play him on clay, so I hope I'll be able to take my revenge."
The last time Coria met the American was during the Australian Open and the Argentine retired in the second set.
MMIX
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