ALBERT COSTA No.8 seed

FACTFILE DOB: 25.07.1975 Nationality: Spanish World ranking: 8 Roland Garros record 2002:: winner 2001:: first round 2000:: quarter-final 1999:: third round

Costa did not read the script at last year's French Open when he swept past rising star Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final to take the title.

At 26 years old the Spaniard was old enough to have reached the quarter-finals as far back as 1995, when he lost to the awesome Thomas Muster.

Another last eight appearance followed five years later, but that appeard to be the limit of Costa's abilities until his surprise win 12 months ago.

It was the ultimate prize for a man brought up on clay-court tennis, and with marriage following a few weeks later it is understandable that the grind of the tour took a backseat for the rest of 2002.

Costa has not exactly been in sparkling form since the turn of the year but there have been signs of a resurgence.

Reaching the semi-finals on hardcourts at the Miami Masters was impressive, and defeat to was Andre Agassi no disgrace.