Newz Forum: OTHER: TENNIS: Novak advances; Costa grounded in Gstaad

Reigning champion Jiri Novak came from behind to beat Spaniard Albert Montanes 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and win his seventh straight match in Gstaad. The Czech Novak, seeded fourth this week, upset Swiss hero Roger Federer in last year's final and also secured this championship in 2001 by topping Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero in the title match.

Eighth-seeded Spaniard Albert Costa was dismissed in straight sets by capable Russian Igor Andreev, 6-2, 6-4, at Gstaad Village. The 2002 French Open champion Costa secured Swiss Open titles in 1996 and 1999.

In other second-round play, Italian Potito Starace came back to best Romanian Victor Hanescu 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1) and Spaniard Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo humbled Austrian Stefan Koubek 6-3, 6-4. Starace will face Novak in the quarterfinals, while Ramirez Hidalgo will encounter Andreev.

The winner of this $669,000 event will claim $93,000.

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