Defending champion Albert Costa won his third consecutive five-set match Saturday at the French Open, staging another stirring rally to outlast Nicolas Lapentti 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt was eliminated in the third round by Tommy Robredo, who came from behind not once but twice. Robredo, seeded 28th, swept the final six games to win 4-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
In the opening round, Costa won for the first time in his long career after losing the first two sets. He did it once more against Lapentti, who limped through much of the final set with cramps.
"It's a very special match, because it was fighting all the time and trying and trying and trying," Costa said. "I'm feeling so proud of myself. I'm not playing my best tennis, but I'm still fighting all the time."
Costa, seeded ninth, advanced in 4 hours, 39 minutes. His first two victories took more than 31/2 hours, and he has played 148 games.
Lapentti's performance included the shot of the tournament. With his back to the net as he pursued a lob, the unseeded Lapentti hit the ball between his legs and lobbed a winner over an astonished Costa.
His Spanish compatriot, Robredo, won for the first time after losing the first two sets, outlasting Hewitt in 3:24.
"I just took the foot off the pedal a little bit," Hewitt said. "In the fifth I had a lot of chances, and I didn't play the big points well enough."
Hewitt double faulted twice on break point in the final set.
"I felt like I was good enough to win today," said the Australian, who considers the French Open his most difficult Grand Slam event. "I think I'll look back and I won't be that disappointed. I'll get over it pretty soon. I'm sure I'll bounce back."
Robredo reached the fourth round at Roland Garros for the second time.
"To beat the world No. 1 like this, it's the best you can imagine," he said.
No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero and No. 20 Felix Mantilla also won, giving Spain five men in the fourth round. Ferrero beat No. 25 Tim Henman 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2, and Mantilla defeated compatriot Fernando Vicente 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3.
Three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten led Gaston Gaudio 7-6 (7-1), 7-5, 3-3 when their match was suspended until today because of darkness.
For the women, a sore toe on Lindsay Davenport's left foot was the biggest problem. Davenport required treatment from a trainer for an inflamed toe nerve that has bothered her for several weeks, but she advanced to the fourth round by beating Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 7-5.
Venus Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Kim Clijsters had an easy day, losing just three games apiece.
Williams, seeded third, hit six aces and beat No. 26 Silvia Farina Elia 6-1, 6-2. Capriati, the 2001 champion, took advantage of a shaky showing by qualifier Julia Vakulenko to win 6-1, 6-2. Clijsters, seeded second, defeated No.30 Paola Suarez 6-2, 6-1.
Davenport, seeded sixth, sought treatment midway through her second set.
"It's a problem I've had for like the last month," Davenport said. "I just have this nerve in my foot that's very irritated. It's day to day. I never know when it comes up. Hopefully it'll be better tomorrow."
