KITZBUEHEL.

Austria. Aug 7: Alberto Costa of Spain sprung one of the biggest upsets of

the season on Sunday by lieating clay court superman Thomas Muster in the Austrian Open. reports Reuter

Costa, seeded fifth, clinched the first tournament triumph of his career and ended the Austrian's bionic run which has seen him win eight titles in 1995.

Number one seed Muster, the French Open champion, looked crest-fallen after disappointing his home crowd who willed him to fight back when he was two sets to one down.

He picked up an easy fourth set but in the end was no match for the determined Spaniard who won 4-6. 6-4. 7-6, 2-6. 6-4.

Costa was fired up in the final set as though he knew victory was within reach and produced some of the best tennis of the match.

Costa easily broke Muster’s first serve in the deciding set and although the Austrian broke back, the Spaniard again broke through In the fifth game, ending an exchange of powerful back court play by both men with a cool drop shot that left Muster wrong-footed

Muster, who failed this week to produce any of the sparkle that has made him this seasons premier clay

court player, never recov-

His run of wins this year include* Mexico. Estoril. Rome. Monte Carlo and Stuttgart. He dropped out of the Dutch Open last month with a foot injury

"I was a little bad today both mentally and physically. Costa was the better player but I would have liked to have won al Kitzbuehel again." said Muster, who took the title here two years ago.

1 made too many mistakes at too many important

moments," he said.

Asked how he felt about Ills overall performance during the tournament Muster said: "I didn't really find my timings at all this week. I was not aggressive enough to last (he week."

Costa was elated. "1 am so very happy and 1 want to savour this moment.

He said he sensed Muster was running out of steam in the final set. "When I broke Muster's serve for the second time in the last set. that's when I knew I had it.’