Born: 25/6/75 Nationality: Spanish Seeded: 26 World ranking: 27 French Open best: Winner (2002) Recent record: 2003: Semi-finals 2002: Winner 2001: 1st round

His victory at Roland Garros was a surprise but Costa has always had the game, relishing lengthy baseline rallies with his rock-solid groundstrokes.

His astonishing display at last year's French Open provided proof that a second title is not beyond him.

The 28-year-old was in terrible form coming into the event, but reached the semi-finals - four of his matches going to five sets.

Perhaps mentally drained by those heroic efforts, he failed to win more than two matches in a row for the rest of the season.

But he has shown glimpses of the Costa of old this season, notably in a semi-final appearance at the Rome Masters where he beat world number one Roger Federer in the second round.

It remains doubtful that he can find success away from the clay on which he has won all 12 of his career titles.

However, in 1997 Costa reached three semi-finals on hard-courts, as well as the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, twice losing to Pete Sampras.

And as recently as March 2003 he reached the semi-finals at the Miami Masters, losing to Andre Agassi.