Costa doubtful for Masters Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) -- Spain's Albert Costa suffered a back injury during a practice match on Monday and is facing a race to be fit in time to play in the Madrid Masters.

The French Open champion, seeded sixth in Madrid, will undergo tests on Tuesday to see if he can play in the indoor tournament.

"Everything depends on how much pain he's in," Spanish Tennis Federation doctor Angel Ruiz Cotorro told reporters.

"Playing on Tuesday would be difficult, but with his first match scheduled for Wednesday he's not ruled out."

The Madrid Masters is vital to Costa's chances of making the lucrative end-of-season Masters Cup in Shanghai.

The Spaniard, currently in eighth place in the Champions Race, needs to finish in the top seven or stay ahead of fellow grand slam winner Thomas Johansson, who is in 14th.

 

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