Marcelo Rios can't expect things to go as easily in the French Open as they did at the Foro Italico.
But if the Chilean continues to play tennis as well as he has been, he won't need any favors at the Grand Slam tournament."No one likes to win a final like this, at a tournament like this," the world's third-ranked player said after claiming his $350,000 Italian Open winner's check without swatting a single ball Sunday.
His opponent in the final, Albert Costa, defaulted because of a right wrist injury, a condition that could force the Spaniard out of the French Open.
"I feel real confident right now, coming off a tournament like this. I'm looking forward to going to France," Rios said.
The lone major played on clay starts May 25, and Rios has to figure among the list of favorites.
He's been the most dominant player all season, with more match wins than anyone else - 31 before Sunday - and just four losses. The South American's four titles - on hard courts at Auckland, New Zealand; Indian Wells, Calif., and Key Biscayne, Fla., in addition to his clay triumph here - are twice as many as anyone else.
In Rome, Rios lost his serve only once and did not drop a single set. He also defeated two of the past three French Open champions, dropping a total of nine games in the process. He routed 1995 French titlist Thomas Muster 6-3, 6-1 in the third round and last year's champion, Gustavo Kuerten, 6-0, 7-5 in the semifinals.
It was an impressive display for a left-hander who was idled for five weeks by a left elbow injury, an absence that forced him out of the top spot in the world rankings.
"I didn't know if I was going to play this well," Rios said Sunday. "But I was feeling very good in every match here, with a lot of energy."
He'll be the top seed against a weak field at the clay event in St. Polten, Austria, beginning today. Rios asked for a wild card into the tournament after a lackluster opening-match loss at the German Open in his first action following the injury.
In the doubles final Sunday, Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes of India outlasted Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and American Rick Leach 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).
In Berlin, Conchita Martinez ended an 18-month title drought by stopping the surprising run of 18-year-old qualifier Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-4 in the German Open.
Mauresmo's improbably march to the final included victories over world No. 2 Lindsay Davenport and No. 3 Jana Novotna.
"I have no regrets - I had an unbelievable week, with lots of wonderful moments," Mauresmo said.