Juan Carlos Ferrero fired out a warning to Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt after collecting his second title in three weeks at the Valencia Open.

"I could finish the year as the world number one," he threatened, following a ruthless 6-2 6-4 victory over Olivier Rochus.

Agassi currently is top of the rankings, with Hewitt close behind and Ferrero third.

But the Spaniard is right at the top of his game and on clay, his favourite surface, he has few peers.

This victory followed a title at the Masters Series event in Monte Carlo earlier in April and a semi-final appearance in Barcelona last week.

He justified his top seed status in Valencia by going through the tournament without dropping a set and will look for more joy before going to the French Open in three weeks' time where he will be many people's favourite.

Rochus, appearing in his first ATP final after seven years on tour, was never expected to seriously challenge Ferrero.

And that was how the match developed with the Spaniard far too mighty a force on the dirt for the overwhelmed Belgian.

Remarkably, this was his fastest match win of the week, with Rochus rolled over in an hour and six minutes.

Ferrero's win-loss record is now 17-1 on clay this season.

"I didn't feel any danger during the match," he said.

"I am not that far away from becoming the number one player in the world. I am only around 1,000 points away from achieving it.

"The key will be whether I can play better and more consistently on hard courts.

"If I continue to play well in the European clay-court season and then take that form to the hard courts in the United Sates, I could finish the year as the world number one.

"From here I won't be getting much rest, but I am looking forward to playing Rome as it is one of the most important tournaments on the circuit."

That tournament begins on Monday and Ferrero is second seed, behind Agassi who won the US Men's Clay-Court Championships a week ago.

It will be Agassi's first test on clay in Europe this year and should the pair meet, it would make for a wonderful final.

Rochus has little doubt who would win.

Speaking after his rapid defeat, the tiny 5ft 5in player revealed how he had been staggered by Ferrero's ability.

"I was a little bit lost and didn't know what to do," he said.

"I consider Ferrero as the best player in the world on clay."