Ferrero and Costa lead Spanish assault

SPANISH grit prevailed at Roland Garros yesterday as defending men’s champion Albert Costa and the player he beat to win last year’s French Open final, Juan Carlos Ferrero, clawed their way through to a semi-final rematch.

Ninth seed Costa displayed his staying power once again as he overcame fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 2-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 in an enthralling quarter-final. Ferrero, seeded three, ousted Chile's Fernando Gonzalez also in five sets, 6-1 3-6 6-1 5-7 6-4.

The pair will meet in the last four on Friday, guaranteeing Spain a finalist at Roland Garros for the third successive year. In the other semi-final unseeded Dutchman Martin Verkerk takes on Argentine seventh seed Guillermo Coria.