Revived Costa clips Clement
By Matthew Cronin
Monday, June 2, 2003
Albert Costa continued his strident attempt to defend his Roland-Garros
title on Monday, finally bringing out his 'A' game and putting down France's
Arnaud Clement 6-2 7-5 7-4 to gain the quarter finals.
Costa - who had won three straight amazing five-setters in the previous
rounds - played a much more authoritative and decisive match against Clement,
controlling the court with his huge forehand, serving effectively out wide
and closing on the net when ever he needed to.
"Now, I feel great," he said. "Today is the first day that it was three
sets. So I don't feel that tired. I think this match is give me confidence
because I played much better tennis, and also I played less time."
In a very tough contest, Costa firmed up his game at decisive moments,
fighting off 12 break points, nailing 64 per cent of his first serves in
and crunching 13 forehand winners. While Clement hung gamely in most rallies,
he was unable to penetrate Costa's steely defense, committing 74 unforced
errors to 64 from Costa.
The Spaniard will play his young countryman Tommy Robredo who performed
his second major upset of the tournament by upending three-time champ
Gustavo Kuerten late Monday. He also beat world No1 Lleyton Hewitt in the
third round.
Costa, who hasn't won a title since stunning Paris in winning Roland-Garros
last year, played rickety, spotty tennis in his first three matches, but on
Monday, it was the same old Al who had battered the field last year.
"I've had a more aggressive right hand," he said. "I've been able to keep
the ball in the court. Perhaps some of the balls - some of the strokes were
not there, but I was feeling very, very calm and very well. I think it felt
almost like last year when I played here. I found my serve. I don't know
why. I was practising all the time and today in the right moment I serve
pretty good. It helped me a lot."
Like last year, Costa has had to battle his own mental demons in order
to gain success at a Grand Slam. Unlike last year, Costa has been pressed
in every match. But now, he has learned to win when he's not in the zone.
"I've had to work very hard to get here," he said. "Many times when you
don't play too well you just have to keep it up and to see what happens
in the end. When you don't have everything going for you, you just try
harder. That was what was happening to me. Today this was not the case. I
came here and everything has suddenly changed and I felt more comfortable
out there."
Clement, who was the last French male player in the draw, said that Costa
simply outmuscled him. He couldn't get enough stick on his favorite shot -
his crosscourt backhand - and he couldn't control net. He wasn't sure of
his footing nor did he find his timing.
"He really deserved the dominant position," Clement said. "His shots were too
difficult for me. If I'm playing against who is stronger than me, it's
difficult for me."
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