Tennis: Ferrer reigns in damp Heineken Open finish

David Ferrer celebrates winning the Heineken Open. Photo / Getty Images

David Ferrer came to Auckland as defending Heineken Open champion and will head to Melbourne this week as reigning Heineken Open champion after he beat Olivier Rochus 6-3 6-4 in today's final.

The top seed and world No 5 was too clinical for the 68th-ranked Belgian and closed out the match in 94 minutes.

Rochus caused some anxious moments for Ferrer as he continued his impressive form of the week but the weather proved more of a distraction and the players were forced from the court twice as showers passed through.

It was appropriate there were two delays, given the number of disruptions throughout the fortnight of tennis in Auckland, but the second came at a crucial point in the contest.

The players trudged from the court with Ferrer serving for the first set but a break point down. When they returned, Ferrer rattled off three points, including a disputed ace, to win the set and grab the initiative in the match.

He soon looked in a hurry, seemingly wanting to finish Rochus off before another shower, and went up an early break in the second set.

But Rochus wasn't so obliging. He ran, he hustled, he fought and he even hit harder. He produced some quality tennis to get back into the match but Ferrer is a quality player and counter-attacked in his own style.

He served too well throughout for Rochus to build pressure and looked in control. When he won the final point, he slumped to the ground in joy like he had won a grand slam title.

He became the second man in history to win the tournament three times, his 12th on the ATP Tour, and vowed soon after to return next year to attempt to win a fourth title.