Teenager Nadal-Parera downs reigning French Open champion Costa
MONTE CARLO (AP) - French Open champion Albert Costa of Spain was knocked out of the Monte Carlos Masters on Wednesday, losing 7-5, 6-3 to Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal-Parera.
The 17-year-old Nadal-Parera, playing in his first major tournament, dominated Costa. He dropped his racket and held his head in his hands after the final point, then punched the air in delight before shaking hands with his opponent. Costa patted his countryman on the back and wished him luck.
"I am so very, very happy to win such a great match," Nadal-Parera said. "You have to respect players like Costa, and I was a bit afraid at first, but then I played better and better."
The 27-year-old Costa saved five set points in the first set. Costa trailed 4-1 in the second set before rallying to within 4-3. Nadal-Parera broke serve as Costa tried to tie the set.
"I thought he may be scared as well playing against a younger player," Nadal-Parera said. "But at the start, I never really thought I could win this."
Nadal-Parera advanced to face Argentina's Guillermo Coria, who beat 15th-seeded James Blake of the U.S. 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-3.
Blake staged a remarkable comeback against Coria but fell just short of victory. Coria won despite blowing a 6-5 lead in the second set.
Sweden's Magnus Norman rallied to beat two-time tournament champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain struggled before beating countryman Felix Mantilla 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. Carlos Moya, last year's runner-up, beat South Africa's Wayne Ferreira 6-4, 6-4.
In other second-round games, Finland's Jarkko Nieminen beat former French and Australian Open champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Italy's Filippo Volandri beat sixth-seeded David Nalbandian 6-2, 7-6 (6). France's Julien Boutter beat Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and Spain's Alberto Martin defeated eighth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 6-4.
� The Canadian Press, 2003
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