World number one Roger Federer ended the claycourt run of Guillermo Coria with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory in the Hamburg Masters final on Sunday.
The Wimbledon and Australian Open champion stepped up a gear after a sluggish start putting on an aggressive baseline display and confirming that he would be a serious contender at the French Open starting on May 24.
| |||||||||||
Argentine Coria, the defending champion and second seed, made a promising start but was then hampered by a blister on a finger of his right hand and could not keep up with the pace.
Coria had won 31 consecutive matches on clay including all 16 he had played this year and had not lost on the slow surface since his semi-final defeat at last year's French Open.
Federer, 22, made his breakthrough by winning in Hamburg two years ago. His second round exit at last week's Rome Masters had suggested he needed time to adapt to clay but his performances here this week designate him as a favourite for the French Open.
