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Jimmy Arias and John McEnroe both are TV tennis analysts when they're not playing.

Arias has been for the Tennis Channel -- he even did last year's Naples tournament final for the channel -- and for ESPN International, while McEnroe has been doing Grand Slam events for the major networks for years.

They both thought Sunday's final between Wayne Ferreira and Aaron Krickstein in the Oliver Group Champions Cup at The Players Club and Spa at Lely Resort would be a tight one.

"Wayne is very strong physically, but clay is not his best surface,'' McEnroe said. "It's a more comfortable surface for Aaron. That's a tough call. Aaron's playing as well as I've seen him. It depends how much has been taken out of the players; this is the fourth round.

"... Both of them have really big forehands. Wayne's going to cover the court better than Aaron will, but Aaron's got a little bit more comfort level on this surface. It's going to be tight.''

Arias agreed, and he correctly pointed out that Krickstein had some success against Ferreira on the ATP Tour; Krickstein said he never lost to Ferreira in four or five matches. But Ferreira did beat Krickstein at an Outback Champions Series event in Charlotte last year.

"I think in general, (Ferreira) might be a little stronger than Aaron,'' said Arias, who hadn't watched Ferreira play this week. "But I think Aaron got him on the regular tour whenever they played, so there's a little quiet confidence there for Aaron in that match.

"I think he's going to have to serve better than he did today against me. He missed a lot of first serves against me and gave me a lot of chances.''

"... If he serves well, then that's a different story. Wayne's pretty darn fast and pretty darn fit and he's only a couple of

years off the tour, but Aaron played great. He's so solid. He never gives you a free point.''