Costa, Muster In Final

Alberto Costa, one the few players to challenge Thomas Muster on clay, gets another chance in today’s final at the Monte Carlo Open. Costa beat Marcelo Rios 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 before defending champion Muster gained his fourth Monte Carlo final since 1990 with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Cedric Pioline.

Costa sent Muster to his last loss on clay at the Kitzbuehel, Austria, final in five sets at the beginning of August. That was Muster’s first loss in a clay court final since 1990, involving 24 finals in a row.

Muster has won 34 clay court matches since then.

The U.S. Fed Cup team split the opening singles in their World Group match against host Austria at Salzburg.

In the opening match, American Mary Joe Fernandez put on a fine display of baseline tennis to defeat fellow baseliner Judith Wiesner 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) in this women’s version of the Davis Cup.

But then Jennifer Capriati, making a comeback after two years off the pro tour, was no match for 17th-ranked Barbara Paulus, who triumphed 6-2, 6-4 in just 70 minutes.