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Ferrer was in control from the outset at Ariake Colosseum, breaking Gasquet in the first game of a match that lasted just 52 minutes.
"Maybe Richard was a little tired because he played last week," Ferrer said. "I'm very happy to win this tournament and just want to enjoy the moment."
Ferrer became the tournament's top-seeded player after top-ranked and defending champion Roger Federer pulled out of the $832,000 event because he needs to rest after the U.S. Open and Davis Cup.
Gasquet won the Mumbai Open the previous week but was no match for Ferrer, who had seven aces.
"I was pretty tired," Gasquet said. "It's tough when you have to play against a guy like David, who rarely misses his shots."
Fifth-seeded Virginie Razzano of France won the women's event Saturday, beating American Venus Williams 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
Ferrer, ranked No. 8, improved to 2-0 against Gasquet, ranked 13th. The last time the two players met was in 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany.
"He's a completely different player now," Gasquet said. "He's playing very well now. He broke me in the first game and I was never able to recover."
Ferrer became the first Spaniard to win the tournament since Manuel Orantes in 1977.
"I'm honored," Ferrer said. "There are some pretty big names on this trophy."
Past winners of the Japan Open included Pete Sampras, Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe and Lleyton Hewitt.
[Associated Press;
by Jim Armstrong]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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