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Rios on a roll

If Marcelo Rios ever wins a Grand Slam, chances are it will be on the red clay of Roland Garros.

And the way he is playing right now, this could be the year. In three sets of top quality clay-court tennis between the two best players on the surface in 1998, the ninth-seeded Chilean was too strong for Spain's Albert Costa, winning 7-5, 6-4, 7-5.

Rios faces another Spaniard, Alberto Berasategui, in the next round.

For some, he is the tournament favourite. "If I had to pick one player to win it would be Rios,'' said Tim Henman, the British no. 7 seed. "He is playing really well at the moment.''

The former world no. 1 is in fine form on the European clay court circuit, with title wins at the German Open and in St. Polton, Austria, after struggling to overcome injury problems early in the year.

"I'm feeling much better than last year,'' he said. "I have played three matches in straight sets, which for sure will help me at the end if I keep winning.''

Rios has stacked up 14 career titles, but a Grand Slam still eludes him. His best performances came in 1998, when he was runner-up at the Australian Open and a quarter-finalist at the French Open.

No one doubts his ability, but some believe that the often surly Chilean doesn't have the right temperament to win a Grand Slam.

Rios frequently complains of boredom on the circuit and gripes about having to give press conferences after each match.

For four consecutive years, French journalists at Roland Garros have awarded him the lemon prize, given to the most unlikable player on the circuit.

But on the evidence of his match yesterday, he is clearly determined not to wait much longer for a Grand Slam.

Against Costa he was dogged throughout, most evidently when he won the vital eighth game of the third set. Trailing 3-4, he made impossible gets at the back of the court before hitting a powerful backhand winner at full stretch. Costa had his best chance of making a breakthrough in the third set, playing a brilliant winner to break serve and take a 4-2 lead. Rios applauded that shot, but broke back immediately before taking the set 7-5.

His match-winning shot was typical, a cracking forehand taken on the rise that wrong-footed the Spaniard.

"I played really offensively today, I think I got it right tactically,'' Rios said.

Facing Costa so early in the tournament was a stiff test for Rios. "Once I saw the draw, I knew it would be tough in the third round,'' Rios said. "Costa has always been one of the greatest clay court players.''

But Costa proved second best, and towards the end was screaming to himself in frustration.