EUTELSAT MONTE CARLO OPEN

April 27, 1996

Albert Costa

ALBERTO COSTA: The match was quite equal on both sides. I won the first set; he won the second set. Some points were questioned, but he deserved to win that second set. In the beginning of the third set, I saved a game, that was difficult for me. After he was a bit upset because I broke him. I think this break in the third set was the key of the match.

ALBERTO COSTA: No. In fact, we are both the same, about 20 years. We were born the same year. We are coming up now, and both of us lack a lot of experience. This will come with time. We will be better in the future.

ALBERTO COSTA: I played him only once, and I lost. It was in '93. It was the only time we played.

ALBERTO COSTA: Well, I try to stay very calm during the whole match, I try to stay always the same. This special shot you were mentioning, it came out because it was a breakpoint and I saw the opportunity of doing it. But it's only one point, it's not what really is important. The important thing is to be very consistent, not only one point.

ALBERTO COSTA: I knew he played very well cross court, and he's able to open the court that way. I was not surprised because I knew he was going to play that way. I have a backhand which is more solid than my forehand. Maybe I played too much on his backhand, but these things happen during a match.

ALBERTO COSTA: I'm not sure whether the ball bounced twice or not. I believe it did, according to what they told me. But it's me. I've been stupid because I lost concentration because of that and it cost me a break. I don't think it's justified to lose a set because of just one point. You don't lose a set for one point. It's my fault because I lost concentration afterwards.

ALBERTO COSTA: I was feeling in a better position because I feel more comfortable on clay. I have more confidence in my game on that surface, and I knew his game wouldn't hurt me so much as it did on hard courts. I was able to attack him more, which is difficult for me to do on hard courts, with his game.

ALBERTO COSTA: I don't know. Muster is a very dangerous player. He won in Estoril, in Barcelona, he was No. 1. This inspires a lot of respect. But if Pioline reaches the finals, it means he's a very good player and he's going to be very difficult to beat. On top of it, he's a French player, he's going to play in front of his public. I'll have to try to remain very concentrated and to do as best as possible.

ALBERTO COSTA: When I was a junior, I was watching Bruguera and Carlos Costa, but I was mainly thinking in myself. I wasn't watching other players. But mainly it was Bruguera and Costa who were Spanish players that I knew myself.