David Ferrer went into this afternoon's Paris Masters final looking to scratch out an unfortunate stat.
The Spaniard was the man who had won the most matches (123) in Masters 1000 events without claiming a title.
He came up against the tournament's surprise package in 21-year-old giant Pole Jerzy Janowicz, who had knocked out the likes of Andy Murray and Janko Tipsarevic in the French capital.
Despite Janowicz's dream week, Ferrer was able to come through thanks to a single break in each set.
Read how it all unfolded in our game-by-game coverage below.
Afternoon all! Looking forward to this as Janowicz has been a real revelation at this event.
You'd expect to say that this is the Pole's biggest test so far but you'd be wrong. The 21-year-old defeated US Open and Olympic champion Andy Murray in round three.
Janowicz has also defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber, Marin Cilic, Janko Tipsarevic and Gilles Simon on his way to the final.
Meanwhile, Ferrer has beaten Marcel Granollers, Stanislas Wawrinka, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra to reach today's final.
For those that didn't see Janowicz's reaction yesterday, the Pole broke down into uncontrollable tears both after winning and in a post-match interview. Emotional.
Despite his lofty world ranking, Ferrer has never won a Masters 1000 title, losing in three finals in Rome, Monte Carlo and Shanghai to Rafael Nadal twice and Andy Murray once.
Ferrer has in fact won more matches that anyone else (123) in Masters 1000 events without winning one. Surely today is his day?
However, this has been a tournament of shocks, after all. Novak Djokovic exited to Sam Querrey as well as Janowicz's defeat of Murray.
Janowicz receives a huge reception from the Paris crowd as he's announced. Both players are just warming up their serves. We'll be underway shortly.
Ferrer will serve first. Here we go.
The first point goes the Spaniard's way as Janowicz's flat forehand is long.
No problem for Ferrer as he holds comfortably.
Whoosh! Super quick game from Janowicz sees him restore parity. The Pole takes the game with a drop shot that has become somewhat of a trademark this week.
These two aren't holding back! Ferrer holds to-15 as Janowicz continues to go for the jugular but can't always find the mark.
Janowicz is in a spot of bother at 15-30 but produces a big ace to get it back to 30-30.
Four straight holds as Janowicz produces yet another drop shot on game point that Ferrer can't dink back over the net.
Wonderful reach at the net from Janowicz to get on the board in game five. 30-15.
Despite that outrageous volley, Ferrer holds quite easily thanks to a wide serve to the Janowicz forehand.
Janowicz stands at a mighty 6'8" and he absolutely bangs down these serves. Three first serves at the start of game six give him a 40-0 advantage.
The Pole should complete a love-hold but he wastefully nets a short forehand. 40-15.
Ferrer nets a backhand on the next to level it up at three games apiece.
Janowicz looks so assured on serve but he can't work up any rhythm when receiving. Ferrer 40-0 up as the Pole nets a drop shot.
Another simple hold for Ferrer. Can he now pressurise the Janowicz serve as we approach the crucial stage of the set?
Errr, no. Janowicz gets a huge cheer from the Parisian crowd as he toys with Ferrer before a drop shot ultimately seals the point. Great stuff from the youngster.
"Wha-UHHH!" Is my best impression of the noise coming from Janowicz at the moment as he bombards Ferrer to win a point against serve and level the ninth at 15-15.
The crowd is certainly with Janowicz as Ferrer nets to give the 21-year-old a first break point of the match.
Janowicz can't get it done though and we're at deuce.
Janowicz misses out by smashing his forehand just wide. Big game now for the Pole as he looks to stay in the set.
Real nervewracking times for Janowicz at 30-30.
Ferrer challenges and it's just out! Set point to the Spaniard. That was so risky as he looked set to win the point anyway.
ACE from Janowicz and it's deuce.
Double fault from Janowicz and it's another set point.
BREAK AND SET!
Janowicz looks extremely nervous and hangs on in the rally before hitting long with a forehand. A real shame for the Pole and I think the occasion got to him a little there. Ferrer takes the first set 6-4 in exactly 40 minutes. Total points won: Janowicz 25-31 Ferrer
Lightning start to the second set from Ferrer as he holds to-love.
And now Janowicz is in trouble again on his serve at 0-30. Is Ferrer going to run away with this?
The Pole wins four points on the trot to hold though and that pleases the crowd greatly. They want to see a comeback.
Stunning drop shot and lob from Janowicz to bring the third game of the second to deuce. Can he break?
Another remarkable point from the youngster as he again drop shots before somehow clawing back Ferrer's angled pass down-the-line. Back to deuce.
He now attacks with a backhand to bring up a break point...
BREAK! Janowicz goes to Hawk Eye as Ferrer sends a deep one to the baseline. It looked good to me but the technology shows that it was an inch out! Janowicz breaks into a wide grin and he's broken. Great stuff.
Ferrer is 0-30 up but Janowicz is getting all the luck at the moment as his umpteenth drop shots bounces on top of the net before dropping over.
Ferrer has a break-back point as Janowicz nets a forehand on the backfoot.
Janowicz goes for a serve-volley and it pays off so we're at deuce.
Janowicz should see out the game but misses a backhand and now Ferrer has a break-back point.
BREAK-BACK! Not good enough from Janowicz as he hits long with a forehand to give the advantage away.
Two pants backhands from Janowicz give Ferrer a game point at 40-30.
Janowicz whips a forehand up-the-line to open up break point but Ferrer denies him with his third ace of the match.
Fab return from Janowicz presents him with another break point.
An excellent rally from both men but Janowicz misses out by eventually thinking 'I've had enough of this' and smashing a backhand wide.
Resilience personified as Ferrer produces another ace to come through a tough service game.
Not a great start to the game for Janowicz as he dominates the point before tamely netting a simple forehand volley. 0-15.
Three break points for Ferrer as he seemingly cracks the Janowicz serve.
The first is squandered as the Spaniard nets. Two left...
That's two gone as Janowicz approaches and finds a deft, spinning volley that Ferrer can't track down.
BREAK! Dear, oh dear. Janowicz double faults on the big point to gift Ferrer the break. The world number five is now just two games from a first Masters 1000 triumph.
Love hold for Ferrer and he's now within touching distance of victory. Has Janowicz given up?
Uh oh! Another double from Janowicz to bring it to 30-30. Ferrer is two points away.
Janowicz finds the line with an in-to-out forehand to hold serve. Ferrer will now serve for his first Masters 1000 success.
What a start to the game! Janowicz's return is well-struck but Ferrer responds with a cross-court forehand slap on the line.
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
The Spaniard crumbles to the floor in celebration. He ends a run of being the man with most victories in Masters 1000 events without winning one.
What a year Ferrer has had! He overtakes Roger Federer at the top of most titles won this year with seven. Well deserved, David. Well deserved.
Janowicz will feel absolutely crushed but he has to look at the bigger picture. The 21-year-old has done remarkably well to get anywhere near as far as this and is going to be rewarded with a place in the world's top 30 tomorrow.
That's just about it from us. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. Make sure you join us next week for our comprehensive coverage of the ATP World Tour finals in London. Good afternoon!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
