PARIS, 5 June 2003 — Defending champion Albert Costa came back from two sets down before beating fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the men’s singles at the French Open yesterday.
Costa, who advanced in 3hr 29min, now meets compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero, who reached his fourth successive French Open semifinal, outlasting Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7. 6-4.
Ferrero made hard work of his victory, allowing the Chilean back into the match on each occasion he had dominated a set, but his experience on centre court showed as his nerve held best after three hours 29 minutes.
“I felt pretty good out there even at two sets down,” said Costa, who served out to take the tie with a neat dropshot as he became only the second man ever to win four five-setters at the same claycourt tournament, emulating Goran Ivanisevic, who performed the feat at Barcelona 11 years ago.
Costa has not won an event since his win over Ferrero in last year’s final - but he says he is now back to his top form after recovering from two sets down for a third time.
Robredo, seeded 28, said despite his defeat he had played the best tournament of his life, but admitted that Costa had outwitted him tactically.
Robredo, 21, ripped through the opening set in just 37min, breaking serve three times. He then broke for 4-3 in the second to establish a stranglehold on the match against the 27-year-old Costa, who came into the encounter on a five-match losing streak to Spanish players. A big forehand saw former junior finalist Robredo hold for 1-0 in the third set before Costa staved off two break points with a big serve.
Costa, ranked nine in the world to 31 for Robredo, came back from two sets down against Argentine qualifier Sergio Roitman in the opening round then in the third round against Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti - and he went the full distance against Czech player Radek Stepanek while Robredo himself overhauled a two-set deficit in the third round to oust world number one Lleyton Hewitt. He also came into yesterday’s battle with a career 4-0 five-set record whereas despite this year’s exploits Costa showed an 8-12 record.
