Spanish third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero stormed to his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, sweeping aside unseeded and outclassed Dutchman Martin Verkerk in straight sets.

The 23-year-old Ferrero, runner-up last year and who had ousted countryman and defending champion Albert Costa in the semi-final, finally achieved his dream of winning at Roland Garros, coming through 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

"It's my life's dream come true," said the Spaniard after the 2hr 9min clash.

"I'm so happy I don't know what to say. It's 12 years since I came here for the first time and dreamed of this moment, and now that it's happened I'm lost for words," he said, as he was presented with the coveted Musketeers Cup by the last French men's champion at Roland Garros, Yannick Noah, who won 20 years ago.

It was the tenth career title and eighth on clay for the Spanish number one, whose experience at Roland Garros told against the unheralded Dutchman, who had previously never won a Grand Slam match before coming here, winning only his first ATP title in Milan last February.

The 46th-ranked Verkerk, the first ever Dutchman to make the final, got off to a nervous start, with his normally biggest weapon, his powerful serve, letting him down.

However, he admitted that his Roland Garros run had been beyond his wildest dreams.

"I never expected to be here today. It's been unbelievable from the beginning. But there's no two ways about it. He deserved to win it," said Verkerk who lost his opening service game after a ten-minute battle during which the 24-year-old staved off four break points.

Despite holding his second service game, with lightning serves of over 200kph, Verkerk seemed surprised by the power of his opponent's return, and despite saving a set point with a sliced backhand down the line, lost the first set in 35 minutes.

He came storming back in the second, breaking serve in the third game with a smash into the centre of the court to take a 2-1 lead.

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