Paris ? Albert Costa was as cool as his rackets in the courtside fridge after double-faulting to hand Tommy Robredo a two-set lead in the French Open quarterfinals. The defending champion had the kid right where he wanted him.

Just 1 1/2 weeks ago, Costa’s 10-year record didn’t include a single comeback from such a deficit. Now he does it routinely.

With a key midmatch strategy shift, Costa overcame fellow Spaniard Robredo 2-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 Wednesday, making him the second player to win three matches at a Grand Slam tournament after trailing 2-0 in sets. He’s also the first player in at least 35 years to win four five-setters during a French Open.

“Every day I surprise myself,” Costa said. “I promise it’s not a strategy. When I am two sets down, I still think I can win the match. I don’t know why.”

His semifinal opponent Friday will be a friend, countryman and the man he beat in the 2002 final: Juan Carlos Ferrero. The third-seeded Ferrero wasted five match points before eliminating No. 19 Fernando Gonzalez 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. The other semifinal is Guillermo Coria vs. Martin Verkerk.

Helped by Gonzalez’s 15 double-faults, Ferrero joined Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Ivan Lendl and Jim Courier as the only men to reach the French Open semifinals four consecutive years.

The women’s semifinals are today, with Serena Williams facing Justine Henin-Hardenne, and Kim Clijsters playing Nadia Petrova. Williams is bidding for a fifth straight major title.