 |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|||||||||||
|
You know it don't come easy Costa survives yet another five-set marathon to advancePosted: Sunday June 01, 2003 1:06 AMPARIS, May 31 (Reuters) -- Defending champion Albert Costa fought back from two sets down to outlast Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in the third round of the French Open on Saturday. Having survived five-set marathons in his previous two matches, Costa has now spent 11 hours and 56 minutes on court in defense of his French Open crown. The ninth-seeded Spaniard was again tested to the limit before he managed to scramble past a cramping Lapentti in four hours, 39 minutes. With both players tiring in the intense heat, Lapentti struggled to move around in the last two sets and had his thigh iced during the changeovers. He also had to call the trainer midway through the fifth game of the decider to get his thigh massaged. Clearly unimpressed with Lapentti's condition, Costa protested to the umpire, who promptly handed Lapentti a code violation for time wasting. "I tried to hang in there but it was too tough. I just didn't want to retire. I wanted to finish the match and gave it everything I had," said Lapentti. "Obviously when someone's cramping in front of you, it was not easy for him. When Albert needed attention it was fine. But when I needed the trainer, he kept on complaining to the umpire to hand me a warning. "It's just too bad I wasn't fit enough to finish the match today." Costa, who has failed to win a title since his victory in the French capital 12 months ago, will play home favorite Arnaud Clement for a place in the quarterfinals. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
|
|||||||||
| |||||||||||
