PARIS -- Juan Carlos Ferrero is ready for a fiesta.

"I'm going to play with another Spaniard, so I think it's a party -- a Spanish party in the final. So for sure, we're going to enjoy the match,'' Ferrero said after advancing Friday to the championship of the French Open against Costa.

It'll be the first Grand Slam final for both Ferrero and Costa, who are friends and are tied 2-2 in previous matches.

Ferrero, seeded No. 11, had little trouble in his semifinal against a temperamental and inconsistent Marat Safin, beating the Russian 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Costa eliminated the tournament's third Spanish semifinalist and the best man at his wedding next week -- No. 18 Alex Corretja -- 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

This will be the third all-Spanish final since 1994. The most recent was when Carlos Moya beat Corretja in 1998.

What's the secret -- Costa was asked Friday -- behind Spain's steady supply of great clay-court players?

"You know Jabugo ham?'' Costa replied, straight-faced. "That's why we fight like this on court. Do you know what it is? You should try it.''

Whatever it is -- something in the water, special training or a diet rich in the very expensive Spanish cured ham known as "Jamon Jabugo'' -- the Spaniards are doing something right.

No. 11-seeded Ferrero, a lanky and aggressive 22-year-old, eliminated seven-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals before beating No. 2-seeded Safin.

"It's a big surprise for me,'' said Ferrero, a three-time French Open semifinalist, who sprained his ankle during a practice session early last week. "I thought that I couldn't play the tournament. But finally, with the help of the doctor and all my friends, I could.''

Safin's semifinal performance didn't hurt.

His power serve was off, as was his usually unshakable confidence. He screamed, muttered, threw his racket and made 78 unforced errors. He was so rattled by the third set that he didn't realize he won the ninth game -- until he saw Ferrero sitting in the changeover chair.

"I thought it was 30-all. I was gone,'' said Safin, a semifinalist in the last three Grand Slams. "I didn't feel really comfortable on the court, and I couldn't find a solution.''

But, he said it was Ferrero's game that unnerved him most: "He's very dangerous.''

No. 20-seeded Costa arrived in Paris never having made it as far as a Grand Slam semifinal in 25 previous attempts. He went on to upset two-time defending champion Gustavo Kuerten in the fourth round and then Corretja, a two-time French Open finalist.

Their 3-hour, 10-minute semifinal ended with Costa tripping and falling as he chased down a backhander by Corretja that went wide. Costa got up, streaked with red clay, and met Corretja at the net with a hug.

"In tennis this is the greatest moment I've ever had, for sure,'' said Costa, who defeated one friend and faces another for the championship.

Costa, unlike Ferrero, isn't looking at it like a party.

"There's only one match left here,'' Costa said. "You have to fight to the death in order to win.''