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 Tuesday, August 15
Ivanisevic rusty after long layoff
 
 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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