Friends get ready for battle

It is not the first time that two Spaniards have clashed in the Paris final but things have changed since Sergi Bruguera beat Alberto Berasategui in 1994. Moya and Corretja belong to a new generation eager to launch a Spanish invasion on other surfaces too. "I’m no claycourt specialist. I was in the Australian Open final in 1997, I’ve beaten all the top five players on hardcourt," said the 21-year-old Moya after defeating tournament favourite Marcelo Rios of Chile in the quarters.

Corretja belongs to the old school of Spanishplayers who spend most of their time behind the baseline but he has fared well on hardcourt as well, especially at the US Open two years ago when he forced American Pete Sampras to five sets in the quarter-finals.

A recent winner in Monte Carlo, 12th seed Moya looks the obvious favourite to hand Spain their ninth Grand Slam title.

His ranking is higher, his serve bigger, his game more varied. He also spent less time on court en route to the final losing only two sets along the way. But Corretja is more experienced, has no faults in his game and is tactically gifted.

"The main problems are his forehand and his serve, both very efficient. I must be capable of moving him around the court," said the soft-spoken Corretja. Motivation may also be on Moya’s side.

"I’m not going to walk on court a loser like I did in the Australian Open last year. It was good enough for me to be in the final. This time, I want more," said the Mallorca-born Moya, who trains in Barcelona.

Moya has the experience of meetingclose friends here as he beat two of the 19 Spaniards earlier in the tournament, including his best pal Felix Mantilla in the previous round. But past history would seem to favour Corretja, who won two of their three previous encounters, both on clay.

Moya insists he has become a more mature player since then and since his loss to Sampras in the Australian Open. "When you reach one Grand Slam final, you can call it luck. When you reach a second Grand Slam final, it means you must be a good player," he said.

Whatever the outcome of Sunday’ final, Corretja and Moya, perhaps with Mantilla too, will probably head off to the Champs-Elysees for an ice cream as they have done for the past two weeks.

"Whatever happens, we’ll remain friends," Corretja said.

THE SPANISH SUMMIT CLASH

CARLOS MOYA (SPAIN)
Age: 21.
Seeded: 12th.
Career prize money: $1.8 million.
Titles: Four.
Coach: Jose Perlas.
Grand Slam highlights: Australian Openfinalist 1997.
Path to final: beat Sebastien Grosjean (France) 7-5 6-1 6-4, Jose Pepe Imaz (Spain) 6-4 7-6 6-2, Andrew Ilie (Australia) 6-2 7-6 6-3, Jens Knippschild 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-4, Marcelo Rios (Chile) 6-1 2-6 6-2 6-4, Felix Mantilla (Spain) 5-7 6-2 6-4 6-2.
Record: Had an excellent 1997 with a win-loss record of 56-30, reaching a career high ranking of number five.
Playing style: Stylish right-hander with a double-fisted backhand. The least Spanish of the Spanish players, Moya is an all-court player who is comfortable coming to the net.
Personal: Born in Palma de Mallorca on August 27, 1976, now lives in Barcelona. Height: 1.90 metres. Began playing tennis at age six and was on the European under-18 singles and doubles titles. He participated in a tennis clinic with Felix Mantilla in December 1996 to benefit two associations for the homeless and spent a week of mandatory military reserves duty in July 1997.

ALEX CORRETJA (SPAIN)
Age:24.
Seeded: 14th.
Career prize money: $3.4 million.
Titles: Five.
Coach: Javier Duarte.
Grand Slam highlights: Australian Open third round 1998, US Open quarter-finals 1996.
Path to final: beat Karim Alami (Morocco) 6-3 6-2 0-6 6-4, Fernando Vicente (Spain) 6-3 6-2 6-3, Hernan Gumy (Argentina) 6-1 5-7 6-7 7-5 9-7, Jason Stoltenberg (Australia) 6-4 6-4 6-3, Filip Dewulf (Belgium) 7-5 6-4 6-3, Cedric Pioline (France) 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Record: Won three titles in 1997 and was a finalist in two other events. Reached a career high ranking of fourth in that year.
Playing style: A typically Spanish clay-courter, Corretja grinds points out from the baseline with his looping groundstrokes. A right-hander, Corretja hits a single-handed backhand.
Personal: Born in Barcelona on April 11, 1974 and still lives there. Won Florida’s Orange Bowl under-16 tournament in 1990. Began playing golf in 1995. President of the ATP Player Council in1997-98.