Squillari saunters past Costa

Franco Squillari has one eye on the title

Franco Squillari's hopes of becoming only the second Argentine men's singles champion at the French Open remain on track, after a confident victory over Spain's Albert Costa.

Squillari won a grinding contest between the two unseeded players 6-4 6-4 2-6 6-4.

"I'm delighted to be in the semi-final," he said. "It's a unique moment for me.

I was a bit tired at the end - but it's a great day for me

Franco Squillari

"I can't believe the match I played - the tennis was of a very high level. I managed to give him the run around a bit.

"He had years of experience in Paris and is a very good player and it was a struggle. I was a bit tired at the end - but it's a great day for me."

Squillari, 23, did not make it past the second round in the first nine Grand Slams of his career, before turning his record around this year.

Albert Costa was clearly outplayed

The left-hander, one of 12 Argentines who started out in the men's draw, reached the third round at the Australian Open in January before exceeding all expectations on the slow red clay.

He now hopes to emulate his boyhood idol Guillermo Vilas, who lifted the French trophy in 1977.

The match was Costa's second Paris quarter-final in five years, but his greater experience counted for nothing.

Squillari broke him twice in the first set, before taking the second in similar fashion.

Costa, however, hit back to sweep through the third set, biding his time before securing breaks in the sixth and eighth games.

But just when it appeared Squillari had lost his way the Argentine regathered his form and broke for 5-4 in the fourth, serving out for the match.