ALBERT COSTA (ESP)

Costa won his first top-level singles title in 1995 at Kitzbühel. He won three further titles in 1996. In 1997, he won another two singles titles and was part of the Spanish team that won the World Team Cup. He won another two singles titles in 1998, including the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg. Three further titles followed in 1999.

In 2000, Costa helped Spain win its first Davis Cup. He also captured a bronze medal in the men's doubles at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, partnering Álex Corretja.

During the French Open in 2002, Costa came up against another Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. Ferrero had been in fine form in the run-up to the event and most observers considered him to be the heavy favourite going into the final. But Costa won in four sets – 6–1, 6–0, 4–6, 6–3 – to claim his only Grand Slam title. The win propelled him to his career-high singles ranking of World No. 6 in July 2002.

During his career, Costa won 12 top-level singles titles. In 2005, he captured his first tour doubles title (in Doha, partnering Rafael Nadal). Costa took over the role of Davis Cup Captain of Spain in 2009