| | Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- Even though Goran Ivanisevic was playing his
first match of the summer after a long layoff, Albert Costa was
taking no chances.
The 11th-seeded Spaniard focused on Ivanisevic's booming serve
during warmups, and the extra effort paid off with a 7-5, 6-2
victory in Monday's opening round of the RCA Championships.
"In the warmup, I was trying to make some good returns, be
focused on the returns and the serve," Costa said. "I was trying
to return as best as I could."
Ivanisevic broke Costa's serve in the second game of the first
set, but Costa broke back, then broke Ivanisevic again in the 11th
game for a 6-5 lead. Costa broke the double-faulting Ivanisevic in
the fifth and seventh games of the second set, finishing the match
in 70 minutes.
In Monday's other matches involving seeded players, No. 9 Younes
El Aynaoui of Morocco advanced with a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over
Sweden's Thomas Johansson, No. 12 Sebastien Grosjean of France
eliminated Max Mirnyi of Belarus, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, and No. 14
Todd Martin swept past Cecil Mamit, 6-3, 6-3. Italy's Gianluca
Pozzi ousted No. 15 Andrei Pavel of Romania, 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-2.
The difference between Costa and Ivanisevic was the Croatian's
serve, but not as Costa had feared.
Ivanisevic recorded nine aces, but also double-faulted nine
times. Costa had seven aces and no double-faults.
"It's important to serve good against him," Costa said. "If
you keep your serve, maybe he can feel a little bit pressure."
For Ivanisevic, the match was a huge disappointment. He had not
competed since Wimbledon in an effort to escape the double faults
that have been plaguing him for a year.
"I was hoping, but I didn't get away," Ivanisevic said. "This
was no fresh start. It's no fun."
Ivanisevic, the 1996 RCA runner-up, advanced past the first
round in five of his six previous appearances.
"It's not only my serve. It's just me," said Ivanisevic, who
will compete in the U.S. Open and at the Sydney Olympics.
Costa will play Wednesday against the winner of Tuesday's match
between wild-card entry Phillip King and Switzerland's Michel
Kratochvil.
"All the players here are so good. You have to respect that,"
Costa said. "But for me, today was a very good day."
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ALSO SEE
Monday's results
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