Costa leads the charge as Spanish dominate French Open

ALBERT COSTA retained his position at the head of the Spanish Armada when he became one of four Spaniards to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open yesterday.

Costa, the defending champion at Roland Garros, overcame home favourite Arnaud Clement in straight sets to join compatriots Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo and Carlos Moya in the last eight.

And he admitted afterwards that having such a strong Spanish contingent through to the latter stages was a huge fillip.

"When you travel away from your normal family, you sometimes get depressed or homesick, but it feels like we are all surrounded by friends. We never feel lonely, we can talk, we can go out, we are happier," he said.

The 27-year-old Costa made unusually swift progress after beating Clement 6-2, 7-5, 7-5.

He had already spent a staggering 11 hours and 54 minutes on court before Monday's encounter, following thrilling five-set victories against Sergio Roitman, Radek Stepanek and Nicolas Lapentti in previous rounds.

But he showed no ill effects from his exertions, proving far too strong for the Frenchman, who had progressed to the second week of Roland Garros for the first time in his career.

And Costa insists he will be fresh to take on Robredo, conqueror of three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten, in the next round.

Clement was gracious in defeat and even admitted he was impressed.

"He was concentrated, motivated and played clean tennis," the Frenchman said.

"Clay will never be my best surface. I am now going to start my preparation on grass and hard courts."

Robredo meanwhile scraped past Kuerten 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4.

The Brazilian former world number one threatened a comeback in the second set, but found Robredo's consistency too much over the whole match. The 21-year-old, who beat top seed Lleyton Hewitt on Saturday, deservedly advanced to his first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Afterwards, a delighted Robredo said: "I got the ace, Lleyton Hewitt, two days ago and now the king with 'Guga', who won three times here, but I still have to beat the knight, Albert Costa.

"Costa won in three sets and gained a lot of confidence, but I believe everything can happen. I will do all I can to reach the semis."

Another man in his first grand slam quarter-final is Guillermo Coria of Argentina, who overcame countryman Mariano Zabaleta 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3 to set up a meeting with his boyhood idol Andre Agassi.

"I am expecting a tough match with a lot of pace, but I am eager to play it because Agassi is my hero," Coria said.

"When I was a kid I loved his long hair, his coloured clothes, I liked him a lot, I respect him a lot."

Coria doesn't possess the best record against the man from Las Vegas, however.

"I have played twice against him, but it was on a hard court and he thrashed me. This time I am going to play him on clay and I feel I have my chance to get revenge for the two previous defeats."

Third seed, and many people's favourite, Juan Carlos Ferrero looked in imperious form as he swept aside Felix Mantilla 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in just one hour and 40 minutes.

His next opponent will be Chile's 19th seed Fernando Gonzalez, who also looked impressive in beating the 30th seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Gonzalez has beaten Ferrero on their last two meetings in the third round of the 2002 US Open and in the semis of the Basel event last October and the Spaniard admits he will have to be at his best to progress.