PARIS (AP) — Al inicio del año, Jerzy Janowicz no pudo costearse el viaje al Abierto de Australia. Ahora, en la final del Masters de París, sólo el español David Ferrer obstaculiza el camino del polaco a la obtención de su primer título en un major.

Ambos jugadores avanzaron el sábado al ganar sus compromisos en sets consecutivos, peor la semifinal de Janowicz fue mucho más impresionante al eliminar al experimentado jugador francés Gilles Simon con parciales de 6-4 y 7-5. Ferrer ganó por 7-5, 6-3 a Michael Llodra luego de sobrevivir a una acometida temprana del francés.

Habiendo perdido sus tres finales previas del Masters, Ferrer —el único jugador preclasificado (4) que queda en el torneo— está bajo presión contra al jugador que ocupa el lugar 69 en el escalafón mundial, quien no tiene nada que perder.

"Va a ser un enfrentamiento muy difícil porque mi adversario está jugando muy, muy bien", dijo el español. "Es muy importante para mí y para mi carrera", agregó.

LEE LOS COMENTARIOS A ESTA NOTA Y AGREGA EL TUYO


Janowicz, quien estuvo jugando en torneos del circuito de Futuros (el nivel más bajo del tenis profesional) al inicio del año, venció a Philipp Kohlschreiber (19no en el listado mundial), Marin Cilic (15), Andy Murray (3) y Janko Tipsarevic (9) antes de superar a Simon, 20mo del mundo.


Hace 10 meses, Janowicz, de 21 años de edad, no tuvo dinero suficiente ni patrocinio para llegar a Melbourne.


"Me enojé un poco porque tenía el nivel para ir a jugar las clasificaciones del Abierto de Australia, Grand Slam, uno de los torneos más importantes en tenis", comentó Janowicz después de convertirse en el primer jugador sin preclasificación en ocho años que llega a la final del Masters de París.


"Pero esto me dio cierto tipo de motivación adicional. Simplemente me dije, 'el próximo año trataré de evitar ese tipo de situación''', agregó.


El dinero probablemente será un problema durante algún tiempo. Si pierde recibirá 234.865 euros y 479.000 si derrota a Ferrer, quien perdió dos veces ante su compatriota Rafael Nadal y una ante el británico Andy Murray en sus tres finales previas del Masters.


El supersticioso Janowicz tomó además una medida inusual: dijo a sus padres que se mantuvieran alejados del estadio.

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    Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Albert Ramos during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, April 26, 2013. Nadal won 6-3, 6-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal celebrates his victory over Albert Ramos during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, April 26, 2013. Nadal won 6-3, 6-0. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Benoit Paire of France during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Friday April 26, 2013. Nadal won 7-6, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during the Barcelona open tennis against Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain looks the ball against Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain servers to Carlos Berlocq, from Argentina, during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 24, 2013. Nadal won 6-4, 6-2. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

  • Rafael Nadal

    Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a press conference during the Barcelona open tennis in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, April 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return to Fabio Fognini of Italy during their semi final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts during his semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco against Spain's Rafael Nadal, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga plays a return to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts during the semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco against Spain's Rafael Nadal, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)

  • France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts during his semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco against Spain's Rafael Nadal, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga plays a return to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return shot to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after defeating France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during their semifinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Saturday, April 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

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  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in their quarterfinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after defeating Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in their quarterfinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his quarterfinal match against Jarkko Nieminen of Finland at the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return to Jarkko Nieminen of Finland during their quarterfinal match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a return to Jarkko Nieminen of Finland during their quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

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  • Fabio Fognini of Italy reacts during his quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco against France's Richard Gasquet, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Fabio Fognini of Italy plays a return to France's Richard Gasquet during their quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Fabio Fognini of Italy reacts during his quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco against France's Richard Gasquet, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

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  • Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria plays a return to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

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  • Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria plays a return to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

  • Spain's Rafael Nadal plays a return to Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria during their quarter final match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Friday, April 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)