rg02costa_corretja

By | Published December 12, 2025 | Full size is 679 × 515 pixels

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2 Responses to rg02costa_corretja

  1. Voo de Mar says:
    December 12, 2025 at 5:33 pm
    Points won by each set: | 34-21, 35-34, 25-30, 37-31 |
    Points won directly behind the serve:
    17 % Costa – 22 of 124
    15 % Corretja – 19 of 123

    Two Catalan buddies of the same height, the same initials, and the same game-styles, who contributed to the first Davis Cup triumph for Spain in 2000, and together they won the Bronze medal in doubles at the Olympics that year. Corretja edged their rivalry 8-7 in the end, but their two most important matches went to Costa (Hamburg ’98 final and the French Open ’02 semifinal). Over the years Corretja developed a flatter forehand and bigger first serve which helped him to get much better results on hardcourts, but on clay those attributes were neutralised, and it was like a coin toss between them… Corretja was physically spent in Hamburg, but in Paris he simply was slightly worse in monotonous baseline rallies over three hours. He optimistically began benefiting from Costa’s terribly put-away volley error, led 2:0, but Costa imposed his stability, and his three set victory seemed inevitable as he led 3:1* (40/15) in the 3rd set. Corretja fought off the double break point, and almost collected six straight games, squandering a double break point in the opening game of the 4th set. Trailing 0:1, he fell down hurting his right hand a bit. After medical treatment he was broken. The last two games lasted 15 minutes and added some drama to that pretty boring encounter: first Costa wasted two match points as a receiver, then he faced a 0/40 deficit while serving. On his third match point he attacked the net with a big forehand, stumbled and fell down, but Corretja’s slice passing-shot landed beside the sideline. Costa could accidentally celebrate on his back (photo) – advancing to his first French Open final, he finally achieved something what had been expected from him already in 1996 before he lost in the second round to another Spaniard, Clavet.

    Serve & volley: Costa 0/1, Corretja 3/4
  2. Voo de Mar says:
    December 12, 2025 at 6:31 pm
    # Basic comparison of these Catalan players:
    Àlex Corretja i Verdegay… Titles 17… Record: 438–281 (60%)… Best ranking: no. 2… Best Slam (twice runner-up)… Masters 1K finals: 2-3
    Albert Costa i Casals… Titles 12… Record: 385–273 (58%)… Best ranking: no. 6… Best Slam (RG champion)… Masters 1K finals: 1-2

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