FRENCH OPEN Ferrero to meet Costa in semis

Defending champ Costa has come from behind in three of five matches.
PARIS (AP) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero will resist the temptation to lose the first two sets on purpose Friday when he plays comeback king Albert Costa in the semifinals of the French Open.
But if Ferrero wins the first two sets, he could be in trouble.
Defending champion Costa erased a two-set deficit for the third time in five matches Wednesday and beat Tommy Robredo 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.
Costa is the second player during the Open era to overcome a two-set deficit three times in a Grand Slam tournament, and the first player to win four five-set matches in a single French Open.
"It's not a record I would have gone for, actually," the No. 9-seeded Costa said.
"I feel very proud, because every day I'm surprising myself."
Played a lot of sets
Costa has played 23 sets and 227 games totaling 18 hours, 32 minutes. He needs two more victories for a second consecutive French Open championship, which would be only his second title in the past 89 tournaments.
"He has found his confidence here," said Ferrero, Costa's friend and fellow Spaniard. "Right now he's playing so good."
But there's hope for Ferrero in the rematch of last year's Roland Garros final.
The only other player to overcome a two-set deficit three times in a major event was Nicolas Escude, who did it at the 1998 Australian Open before losing in the semifinals. Three others players have won four five-set matches in a single Grand Slam tournament during the Open era, but none won the title.
In other words: The marathon matches wore them out. And that could happen to Costa.
"He'll be confident," Ferrero said. "But I'm not sure he'll be that fresh. After playing so many sets, nobody can be fresh."
The third-seeded Ferrero may be a little weary himself. Like Costa, he played for 3 hours, 29 minutes Wednesday to beat big-swinging Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4.
The other semifinal
The other semifinal Friday will offer a contrast of speed and power, with 5-foot-9 Argentine Guillermo Coria playing 6-foot-3 Dutchman Martin Verkerk.
The seventh-seeded Coria upset 1999 champion Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals, and the unseeded Verkerk surprised 1998 champion Carlos Moya.
When Costa beat Sergio Roitman in the opening round after losing the first two sets, it was the first such comeback in the Spaniard's 10-year career.
Then he did it again in the third round against Nicolas Lapentti.
His career record in five-set matches is only 9-12. But he's 4-0 in the past two weeks.
"I like five sets," he said. "When I am two sets down, I still think I can win the match."
Costa said winning the 2002 title contributes to his poise when behind.
"I think it's worse when you've never won, because you are very anxious," he said. "Now when I'm on the court, I think, 'Well, I still won once, so don't get nervous, don't get anxious.' "