BBC SPORT | FRENCH OPEN | Confident Corretja has sights on title

By BBC Sport Online's Alex Perry at Roland Garros

Alex Corretja's impressive record in the French Open continued with a 7-5 6-4 7-5 win over Roger Federer.

Corretja was playing in a quarter-final at Roland Garros for the fourth consecutive year, and only two players, Jimmy Connors and Raul Ramirez, have done that without winning the tournament.

"I had the control of the match from the very beginning," said Corretja.

I'm confident, but no more than that

Alex Corretja

"I think I've been playing pretty well - the last few days I've been playing pretty well and today I played better.

"I couldn't play much better today."

Corretja now faces Sebastien Grosjean in Friday's semi-final, after the Frenchman beat Andre Agassi with surprising ease.

"It's not easy to reach the semis of a Grand Slam," added Corretja. "I'm confident, but no more than that.

"I'll do the same things tomorrow in practice and see how I can do on Friday."

For Federer, this was the furthest he had ever gone in a Grand Slam, but he was nonetheless disappointed as he felt he had missed his chance to progress.

Sebastien Grosjean
In-form Grosjean will be Corretja's semi-final opponent

"I know I had opportunities today. But I didn't feel I played well - in the important points especially.

"But I believe he also played well - he missed a lot less than last year."

Federer was referring to the pair's meeting at Roland Garros last year, when Corretja also won in straight sets.

The Swiss player felt that things could have turned out very differently.

"I had so many opportunities to finish off the points and I wasn't able to find my timing.

"It was very unnerving for me - it was annoying."

Wimbledon doubts

Corretja and two of his compatriots pulled out of Wimbledon last year in a row over the All England Club's seedings policy.

He said he had not yet made up his mind whether he would play at this year's tournament.

"Of course I would like to play Wimbledon but I will have to see how it goes," said Corretja.

Tim Phillips, president of the All England Club, watched as a guest of honour. He could now do a lot worse than spend some time trying to persuade Corretja and Gustavo Kuerten that Wimbledon is worth the trip.


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