1998 IN REVIEW

The Spaniard finished in Top 75 ATP Tour Rankings for eighth consecutive season...In first match of year in Doha, defeated No. 8-ranked Sergi Bruguera in 1st RD...Made successful claycourt debut in April with back-to-back QF in Estoril (l. to Moya) and Barcelona, where he defeated No. 10 Kuerten and Safin before falling to eventual champion T. Martin...Played well during European summer season, earning third top 10 win in Stuttgart, defeating No. 10 Corretja in 2nd RD before falling to eventual winner Kuerten...Two weeks later reached SF in San Marino (l. to Hrbaty) and followed with title at Graz Challenger (d. Portas)...Compiled 14-15 record on clay and 7-8 on hard...Surpassed $3 million mark in career earnings.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

1989-Won doubles titles at three Challengers (all w/Carbonell)...1990-Won singles title at Zaragoza Challenger and doubles at Ljubljana Challenger (w/Roig)...1991-Won Venice and Siracusa Challengers and broke into Top 100...1992-Won Tour titles in Estoril (d. Bruguera) and Barcelona (d. Gustafsson)...Finalist in Madrid (l. to Bruguera) and Rome (l. to Courier)...1993-Titlist in Hilversum (d. Gustafsson) and Buenos Aires (d. Berasategui)...Doubles winner in Madrid and Buenos Aires (w/Carbonell)...Surpassed $1 million in career earnings...1994-Won titles in Estoril (d. Medvedev) and San Marino (d. Gross)...Compiled a 4-0 record to lead Spain to Peugeot ATP Tour World Team Championship final...1995-Reached finals in Oporto (l. to Berasategui) and Umag (l. to Muster)...Won the Graz Challenger (d. Novak)...1996-Underwent arthroscopic right elbow surgery on Oct. 16...Reached lone ATP Tour final of year in Bologna (l. to Berasategui)...1997-Reached SF in Bastad and San Marino and QF in three other Tour stops...Compiled 15-4 Challenger record with titles in Barletta (d. Sanguinetti) and Barcelona (d. Marin)...All 20 match wins came on clay. CAREER TITLES (6): 1992-Estoril, Barcelona; 1993-Hilversum, Buenos Aires; 1994-Estoril, San Marino. FINALIST (7): 1992-Madrid, Rome; 1993-Mexico City; 1994-Barcelona; 1995-Oporto, Umag; 1996-Bologna. CAREER DOUBLES TITLES (5). FINALIST (3). GRAND SLAM RECORD CAREER989796959493929190 AUS. OPEN3-41ST 1ST2ND- - 3RD- - - FRENCH OPEN12-81ST2ND1ST3RD2ND4TH4TH3RD- WIMBLEDON3-5 --1ST- 2ND2ND2ND- 1ST US OPEN7-61ST 1ST1ST- 3RD3RD4TH- -

PERSONAL

No relation to Albert Costa...Began playing tennis with father and two older brothers, all members of the Real Club Tennis...Won the Spanish Junior championships in 1986 and 1990 Spanish doubles title (w/F. Clavet) and singles in 1991-92...Fan of Rolling Stones, Doors, Rod Stewart and AC/DC...Has career record of 6-5 in seven Davis Cup ties (5-4 in singles)...Played in the Atlanta Olympic Games, losing to Andrea Gaudenzi in 1st RD...Wife, Itziar...Coached by Enrique Perez.