Albert Costa

Albert Costa is a pro tennis player who was born on June 25, 1975. He started playing the sport at the age of five and drew recognition as an outstanding juniors player. Costa won the Orange Bowl in 1993, the first time he reached the finals in the juniors French Open. The Spaniard turned pro a year later, winning two challenger series events in the same year and named the Newcomer of the Year by the ATP.

He won his first top level singles title 1995 at Kitzbuhel, following this up with three more wins a year later. Two more singles titles came in 1997. It was also during this year that he played for the victorious Spanish team that won in the World Team Cup. A year later, Costa won the Tennis Masters Series in Hamburg. He won additional titles in 1999.

Costa was also on hand to help Spain win the Davis Cup in 2000. He also represented his country at the Olympic Games in Sydney, capturing a bronze medal in the men’s doubles with partner Álex Corretja.

His first and only Grand Slam win was in 2002 at the French Open, going past Gustavo Kuerten, followed by Guillermo Canas in the quarterfinals before defeating Corretja in the semifinal. He then defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero for the win.

Winning the 2002 French Open raised Costa’s ranking to world no. 6. He defended the title in 2003 before he was knocked out in the semifinals by Ferrero.

The Spanish player announced plans to retire in 2006. He was named the captain for the Spanish Davis Cup team in 2008.