Juan Carlos Ferrero successfully defended his title on Sunday at the Monte Carlo Masters, defeating Guillermo Coria of Argentina in a most one-sided final.

The 23-year-old Spaniard waited as rain delayed the start of the match by an hour, and then rolled to a 6-2 6-2 victory in a contest reduced to the best of three sets due to the inclement weather.

"I'm playing very solid right now and not making mistakes," said Ferrero.

"It was tough to wait for the rain to end, but this was a good victory.

"This is my first tournament on clay this season and I'm feeling great."

Ferrero won his 12th consecutive match here and now stands 16-2 on the red clay.

"I had tough matches in the early rounds and I got through them," he added.

"I've had another great tournament and I'll certainly be back to defend again."

The victory puts him into a favourite's role for the French Open with five weeks remaining until the start of the year's second Grand Slam where he was beaten in the final last year by compatriot Albert Costa.

Ferrero owns three titles from four career Masters finals after Monte Carlo last year and Rome in 2001.

Coria lost his second career match against Ferrero, who is third in the season points race behind Andre Agassi and Rainer Schuettler.

Ferrero had beaten him in the third round a year ago at Roland Garros.

Coria, the son of a tennis instructor, was overwhelmed in his first Masters finale as Ferrero dictated on the clay.

His previous best was the Monte Carlo semis in 2001, when he lost to Gustavo Kuerten.

It was Coria's second loss in a final after going down to Spain's Carlos Moya in Buenos Aires in February. He beat Moya to reach the final here.

Coria failed to follow coach Alberto Mancini, who won the Monte Carlo trophy in 1989 over Boris Becker.

"Maybe I'll have more luck next year," said the Argentine.

"I've had a great tournament, far beyond belief."

Ferrero, who converted six of 11 break point chances and struck 17 winners, will go to next week's event in Barcelona as the top seed.

Ferrero raced to a 3-0 lead from two breaks. But Coria got one of the breaks back for before Ferrero re-established control with a third break of the South American to take a 5-2 lead.

Coria failed on a drop shot and then sent a return long to lose the game as wind continued to blow much of the wet weather away.

Ferrero lofted a perfect lob winner in the next game which Coria could only put out to bring on two set points for the top seed.

A service winner by Ferrero sealed the opening set in 26 minutes.

The Spaniard started strong in the second set with a break, putting a forehand into the empty court. Ferrero poured on the pressure, saving two break points in the second game.

Coria's defences collapsed as he drove a forehand into the net to give Ferrero a chance at a 3-0 lead, which the Spaniard gladly accepted, increasing his margin with an untouchable forehand into the corner.

Ferrero wasted little time in concluding his victory, overcoming a break back from Coria with another of his own to grab a 4-1 lead.

He finished up three games later for a title victory in 75 minutes as the sun broke through for the first time in the day.