Costa reaches last four

Albert Costa survived some nervous moments today against Guillermo Canas to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Costa, a member of the so-called ‘Spanish Armada’ which dominates the claycourt game, was teetering in the fourth set when he was down a break against the Argentinean, but after a rain delay he fought back for a 7-5 3-6 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-0 triumph.

The 26-year-old Costa has been making headlines this week in Paris, and not just because of his elimination of French wonderkid Richard Gasquet in the first round.

Gasquet had to beat three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten in the last round, and he did so with relative ease, a straight sets victory.

Costa now faces the winner of countryman Alex Corretja’s last eight showdown with Andrei Pavel.