Juan Carlos Ferrero was crowned king of claycourt tennis with a 6-1 6-3 6-2 demolition of Dutch underdog Martin Verkerk.

The Spaniard, so long regarded as the world's best claycourter, finally put his reputation as a choker behind him with a brilliant display.

Verkerk, who surprised so many people by simply reaching the final, had no answer to Ferrero's baseline game and he slumped to the heaviest French final defeat since Bjorn Borg's 1978 victory over Guillermo Vilas.

The big Dutchman's big serve did not click, largely, as he later admitted, due to the blustery conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Ferrero pounced on it from the start, sweeping through the first set 6-1 in fine fashion.

Verkerk gave his large contigent of fans something to cheer at the start of the second set as he secured a break to lead 2-1.

But that was to prove his only break of the entire match - and it was surrendered immediately.

Ferrero, whose sometime suspect backhand was in fine fettle, went on to take the set 6-3 and an early break in the third set put the writing on the wall.

Verkerk now faced a mountain of Everest-like proportions, and with his first serve percentage never getting over the 50 mark, he could not change the pattern of play.

Ferrero, a beaten finalist 12 months previous, wrapped up victory after two hours and nine minutes with a forehand winner, before sinking to his knees to celebrate his first Grand Slam title.

Ferrero was delighted to put the memories of his 2002 defeat against Albert Costa behind him.

"I had experienced a final where I did not play well," he said, "and before the match I thought I had to give my maximum physically, mentally and tactically.

"I was extremely motivated and for me this was a perfect final."

He added: "After progressing twice to the semis and losing in the final I never gave up hope I would one day win that tournament.

"I am so happy. When I kneeled down on the clay after my win, I was looking at the ground and was thinking: 'Now I have got it and no one will ever take it away from me'."

Meanwhile, Verkerk was also satisfied with his performance at Roland Garros despite falling at the final hurdle.

"I have just experienced two great weeks," Verkerk said, "and I am very proud of my performance here.

"Being in a grand slam final proved to be far better than in my dreams, it is difficult to express my feelings with words. This is a dream that will continue for a long time I hope."