FRENCH OPEN NOTEBOOK From Roland Garros

Chance to avenge: Juan Carlos Ferrero has a score to settle Wednesday with his French Open quarterfinal opponent, Fernando Gonzalez. Both cruised to easy fourth-round wins Monday, setting up a rematch of the 1998 boys' final at Roland Garros, which Gonzalez won. "This," Ferrero said, "is more important than the juniors final." "It's going to be a good show," Gonzalez said. Gonzalez, who hits perhaps the hardest forehand in tennis, has also won their two meetings as pros, but neither was on clay. "You know the second or third shot is going to be a cannonball," the No. 3-seeded Ferrero said after cruising to a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 win over countryman Felix Mantilla. "I must try to control the point before he hits the cannonball." No. 19-seeded Gonzalez advanced by beating Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. "I have great respect for Ferrero as a clay-courter," Gonzalez said. "But I know I have great tennis in myself." Since losing in the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters to David Nalbandian last month, Gonzalez has won eight consecutive clay-court matches. Ferrero, runner-up last year at Roland Garros, is 25-2 on clay this year. He won at the Monte Carlo Masters and Valencia and reached the semifinals at Barcelona and the Rome Masters.
Ready for action: Defending champion Albert Costa played for more than 15 hours to reach the quarterfinals and he said he's ready for three more matches. "I feel great. I don't feel that tired," the No. 9-seeded Spaniard said after a 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 win Monday over Arnaud Clement. Costa, back on center court for the first time since winning the 2002 final, beat Clement in just over three hours -- bringing his precise playing time at Roland Garros to 15 hours and 3 minutes. Costa said a straight-sets win was a relief after his first three wins took five sets each. "This match gives me confidence, because I played much better tennis and I also played less time," he said. Costa meets countryman Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals Wednesday.