Costa stunned by teenager

Costa stunned by teenager

Wednesday's ATP Tour round-up

Latest results

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Monte Carlo Masters

Nadal was playing only his fourth ATP match

French Open champion Albert Costa sensationally crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters at the hands of 16-year-old Spanish compatriot Rafael Nadal.

Costa, the fourth seed, went down 7-5 6-3 to Nadal, who along with France's Richard Gasquet, is being touted as a future top 10 player.

Gasquet became the youngest player to win a Masters match at 15 years and 10 months on the same court last year.

But Nadal is playing in only his second ATP event and the win over his vastly more experienced opponent was only his fourth match at this level.

"I am really happy to win this though it wasn't a great match. I have a lot of respect for Albert but I try to always do my best and give my all," said Nadal, the nephew of former Spanish international footballer Miguel Angel Nadal.

"I was very eager to play that match and I hoped he would be a little afraid of playing against a young player like me.

"But seriously, I did not really believe in my chances."

Defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero survived a stern test from Spanish countryman Felix Mantilla before moving into the third round.

Ferrero won the event last year

In a match featuring long rallies in windy conditions, the top seed progressed 3-6 6-2 7-5.

He was joined in the third round by second seed Carlos Moya, who brushed aside South African veteran Wayne Ferreira 6-4 6-4 to book an encounter with 16th-seeded compatriot Tommy Robredo.

But Wednesday saw a number of seeded players suffer defeat, leaving the event with only four of its top ten seeds left in the tournament.

Gustavo Kuerten, the 10th seed, could not stave off the challenge of Magnus Norman, despite serving for the match at 6-1 5-2.

Norman, the former world number two, fought back for a 1-6 7-5 6-2 victory made all the more memorable because it was against the man who beat him in the 2000 French Open final.

"That match stuck in my mind," said the 26-year-old. "So I am happy to get the revenge today.

"This was one of my best victories. I am very happy because I had a lot of problems the last two years with my body."

Argentine David Nalbandian, seeded sixth, went down 6-2 7-6 to unseeded Italian Filippo Volandri.

And fifth seed Jiri Novak, of the Czech Republic, also tumbled to a 6-4 6-2 defeat to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela.