By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's play

MASON - The No. 1 ranking in men's tennis is up for grabs this week in Cincinnati, and Juan Carlos Ferrero wants to take it.

The Spaniard is currently third behind Andre Agassi, who is not playing this week, and Roger Federer.

But if Ferrero advances to the final of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Federer loses before the semifinals, Ferrero will claim the top ranking for the first time in his career. It would be a nice achievement to go with his first Grand Slam title, which he won in June at the French Open after finishing runner-up there in 2002.

"Of course, it's a big motivation playing to be No. 1," Ferrero said. "To be No. 1 in the world is special."

Ferrero easily disposed of Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-0, 6-2 Tuesday on the Grandstand Court at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The 23-year-old is a clay-court specialist with a 32-4 record on clay this year, including tournament wins at Roland Garros and Monte Carlo. But he is also fast becoming proficient on hard courts, where he is 14-6 this season, and reached the semifinals in Cincinnati last season.

"Finally, I like to play hard courts," Ferrero said.

Perhaps that is because the 6-foot, 160-pound Ferrero seemingly can get to any shot, which has earned him nicknames such as Mosquito and Chavalito, which translates to "Little Kid."

It is doubtful that many opponents think of Ferrero as a little kid anymore after he won the French Open in true clay-court style, by hitting winner after winner and deftly returning big serves.

"Nothing has really changed at all since then," said Ferrero, who reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon but has yet to get past the quarterfinals of any tournament since Roland Garros. "Now I have the experience of winning a Grand Slam. And I know how to play in a big final. But I don't go into a match thinking about the past."