The first two quarterfinals featured all Spanish players. Without a doubt, it was going to be a long afternoon of tennis. The players certainly did not disappoint.

This match featured a duel between one of the oldest and youngest Spaniards on the Tour today. Both were coming off big victories here in Scottsdale. Clavet scored the upset of the tournament with Andre Agassi's crash-and-burn, while Ferrero rolled over Patrick Rafter and Carlos Moya in his first two matches. The two players had only met once before with Ferrero winning 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of Mallorca last September. This match was en route to Ferrero's first career title.

Ferrero has had quick starts in each of his first two matches and today's was no exception. Ferrero immediately broke Clavet's error prone first service game. Ferrero held his first service game at love with a 119 mph service ace. Ferrero's forehand has been a lethal weapon this week and was the key in the fifth game of the set when Ferrero broke Clavet's serve for the second time for a 4-1 lead. After this game, Ferrero's game went a little astray. In the first two matches, Ferrero seemed to rollover his opponents after breaking them, but today, against the more defensive Clavet, it was a different story. Four unforced Ferrero errors gave Clavet a break back at 4-2. After being steamrolled in the first several games, Clavet was getting more Ferrero shots back in the middle stages of the set. In the eight game of the set, Ferrero opened the door to Clavet to get the match on serve. A double fault and a badly missed drop shot attempt gave Clavet two break chance opportunities. Ferrero fought back with an ace and got to deuce with a backhand error from Clavet. A forehand volley winner gave Clavet another break point. On the next point, Clavet was given a time violation. I was a little surprised by the call since there has been little in the way of chair umpire chastisements, be it lengthy delays or ball/racquet (though racquets have definitely been bouncing off the court all week). Nevertheless, Clavet was not put off by the call and passed Ferrero at the net with a forehand. The set was deadlocked at 4-4.

Ferrero was not pleased that his two break advantage in the set had been erased. Two big forehands gave Ferrero a lead on Clavet's serve. Clavet was definitely coming in more in this match. But unlike Rafter who was a constant target for Ferrero to pass, Clavet's net play was more selective and generally more successful. However, Ferrero finally succeeded with a lob winner and broke for a 5-4 lead. Ferrero held his next serve, opening with a 110 mph ace, to take the first set 6-4 in 41 minutes.

Whether Ferrero would proceed to a straight set victory at this point, or not, it was apparent he was facing an opponent who was giving him a little more trouble. After convincing victories over Rafter and Moya, this is a little hard to believe. However, Clavet definitely is a player that throws their opponent a lot of "junk" and I mean that in a good sense. Clavet uses a lot a spin on his shot, and likewise as a left-hander has an advantage in giving his opponent a different look at the ball. Clavet held serve to open the second set, but then the players traded breaks. Both players lost their service games with backhands that sailed wide. The set appeared to be headed to a tiebreak with Ferrero serving at 3-4, 40-15. Three Clavet winners followed and Ferrero eventually double faulted on break point. Clavet held to take the second set at 6-3.

The adage "experience over youth" now appeared to be a possibility. Despite his slim frame, Ferrero was up to the final set challenge. Ferrero broke Clavet's first service game and went out to a 4-1 lead. Ferrero's forehand which led him a bit astray in the second set returned with a vengeance in the third. Clavet did not see another break point on the Ferrero serve for the remainder of the match. Ferrero ended the match with a 119 mph ace. The final score was 6-4, 3 -6, 6-3 and clocked in at one minute short of two hours.

The second battle of Spain followed as Costa and Corretja took to the court. The two almost appeared to be coming out of some Spanish cloning machine, both players with a similar height and build. This was the 11^th meeting between the two players with Corretja holding a 7-3 advantage (2-1 on hardcourts). Corretja, one year older than Costa, also won the past four meetings.

History does not mean much when you are on the court today. Corretja got off to a very slow start with Costa earning a very quick service break in the first game. Call it "night syndrome" but like many other players in both the men's and women's tournaments in Scottsdale there is apparently a huge difference between a match being played under the sun or under the lights. Today's match was Corretja's first during the day. His first round victory over James Black occurred on Tuesday night and last night Patrick Rafter stepped in for an "exhibition" set when Pete Sampras pulled out of the tournament late yesterday. Corretja held his second service game, but a consistent barrage of unforced errors and a double fault gave Costa a second break for a 4-1 lead. Costa served out the set at 6-2 in 28 minutes.

In typical Spanish fashion, the match was far from over. Corretja dug in and reduced his unforced error count and Costa dropped his game a level in the second set. Both players had their share of long service games but each managed to squeak out their serves. While it does not always make for the most exciting tennis, these Spaniards in particular definitely showed a consistency that many other players can only dream of. Serving for 5-5 all in the set, Costa's game hiccuped and a series of unforced errors allowed Corretja the break and the second set at 6-4.

The final set started with service holds. Costa broke on his first opportunity to take his first lead of the match at 2-1. Corretja, not willing to go away just yet, immediately broke back when two Costa forehands sailed wide. Similar to the second set, these early trades of service were followed by a series of grueling service holds. Though a couple of games reached deuce, neither player afforded the other one an opportunity for a service break. During the ninth game changeover, the chair umpire perhaps forgetting where the match was being contested announced "Tiempo" to get the players back onto the court. Later, the players were greeted with an enthusiastic standing ovation as Costa attempted to send the final set to a tiebreak. This twelfth game proved to be the most exciting of the match. At deuce, a Corretja forehand was called out but overruled by the chair with the point being replayed. Costa won the next point but a backhand sailed long to return the score to deuce. Both players at this point received their share of encouragement from the crowd. One gentleman, unsure of who to cheer for, simply yelled out "C'mon Al." A lob winner gave Corretja his first match point, but it was negated by an unforced error on the next point. Costa won the next two points and the match was to be decided by a tiebreak. Here is a detailed account of it:

Cor: Backhand crosscourt winner by Corretja on the 15^th stroke. Corretja 1-0.

Cos: Corretja's backhand service return floats long. 1-1.

Cos: On the 4^th stroke, a Corretja backhand down the line floats wide. Costa 2-1.

Cor: Corretja has a bad backhand mishit on the 11^th shot. Costa 3-1.

Cor: An intense battle of backhands, with a Costa backhand wide on the 11^th shot. Costa 3-2.

Cos: Corretja wins the point on an overhead smash after taking Costa wide on his backhand. 3-3.

Cos: Corretja's backhand service return lands in the net. Costa 4-3.

Cor: 118 mph ace. 4-4.

Cor: Costa hits a forehand wide on the 8^th shot. Corretja 5-4.

Cos: On the 4^th stroke, a Corretja backhand sails long. 5-5.

Cos: On the 14^th shot of the rally, Corretja hits a forehand long in response to Costa rushing the net. Costa 6-5.

Cor: Costa mishits service return. 6-6.

Cor: A wild forehand long for Corretja on the 5th shot. Costa 7-6.

Cos: A forehand volley winner for Costa on the 5^th stroke. Costa 8-6.

A tough match that lasted 2 hours and 28 minutes, with Costa a 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) winner. In typical Spaniard fashion, both men embraced at the net to thunderous applause and cheers from the crowd. Costa faces Tim Henman in the semifinals on Saturday.