Former world number one players Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain proved that they are still forces to reckon with after winning their respective ATP 250 Claycourt events last weekend – both as unseeded players.
Hewitt clinched the US Men’s Claycourt Championships in Houston, Texas after defeating Wayne Odesnik of United States (6-2, 7-5) in the final. The victory served as the Australian’s 498th match win and is just two wins away from entering the elite group of players with 500 victories or more. His ranking this week rose from 88 to 57. The tournament was filled with upsets including the ouster of top two seeds – James Blake and Mardy Fish – in the first round.
In Morocco, Ferrero won the Grand Prix Hassan II as unseeded player. He defeated fifth-seeded Florent Serra of France (6-4, 7-5) to win his 12th career title. The Spaniard has always been a major contender in claycourt events – winning his lone Grand Slam at the French Open in 2003. For his title win, Ferrero’s back in the top 100 with his ranking rising from 115 to 75.
