Verkerk leaps up ATP rankings

June 09, 2003 15:15 IST

Unseeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk soared up the ATP Tour rankings to 15th from 46th place on Monday after reaching the French Open final.

Verkerk downed claycourt specialists Carlos Moya and Guillermo Coria at Roland Garros to reach his first Grand Slam final.

With 1,439 points Verkerk jumped 31 places in the rankings, currently led by Australian Lleyton Hewitt with 4,135 points.

Verkerk had not won a single Grand Slam match before the French Open began but wowed the Paris crowds hitting a total of 124

aces in seven matches.

The exuberant 24-year-old was hoping to be the first Dutchman to win the Roland Garros crown but was outplayed in Sunday's final by Juan Carlos Ferrero.

His French Open success has also pushed Verkerk to equal eighth with Spain's Felix Mantilla in the Men's 2003 ATP Champions' Race.

Sunday's champion Ferrero leads the race 85 points clear of second-place Andre Agassi. The top eight players at the end of the season take part in the Tennis Masters Cup.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Source:

© Copyright 2025 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.