Costa recovers in duel of baseline

Tennis

Alberto Costa, the top-seeded Spaniard, came from behind to beat Marc- Kevin Goellner, the British-based German, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 in the final of the revived Bournemouth International Open at the West Hants Club yesterday.

Costa, who will be known from today at his own request, as Albert on the ATP Tour, follows another Spanish player, Jose Higueras, who won the last Bournemouth tournament in 1983. He finished a decisive winner in a mainly baseline duel, but not before a protracted protest from Goellner in the fourth game of the final set.

Costa was leading 2-1 and 40-30 on the German's service and then hit a fierce forehand, which was immediately called out by the line judge. However, Gerry Armstrong, the umpire, over-ruled the decision and awarded the game to Costa to give him a crucial 3-1 lead. Goellner appeared to lose heart and Costa won three of the next four games to win his third title of the year.

Goellner gained consolation when he and Greg Rusedski, the British No 2, beat Rodolphe Gilbert, of France, and the Portuguese Davis Cup player Nuno Marques 6-3, 7-6 in the doubles final, after they had saved two set points when 6-5 down in the second set. It was Rusedski's first tournament success in Britain and the fourth ATP Tour title of his career.