In a huge upset French tenth seed Sebastien Grosjean shocked US third seed and 1999 titlist Andre Agassi to reach themen's singles semi-finals on Wednesday, winning 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in just 1hr 49min.
In an astonishing encounter, Grosjean shocked an opponent who has tasted Grand Slam success seven times to set up an encounter with Spanish13th seed Alex Corretja, who earlier put out unseeded Swiss Roger Federer 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 and whom the Frenchman has never met.
Grosjean, with just one career title to his name, made a wretched start as he lost the opening set in just 20min.
But suddenly he turned the match on its head against Agassi, who has been in tremendous form this year, winning the Australian Open as well asMasters Series titles in Miami and Indian Wells to propel him to the top of the ATP Champions Race.
Agassi set off like an express train on a Philippe-Chatrier Centre Court graced by former US president Bill Clinton, who arrived to find his compatriothaving already cruised through the opening set in just 20min after breaking for a 3-0 lead.
But the hullabaloo created by Clinton's arrival was the precursor to an amazing collapse by Agassi, who promptly lost 12 of the next 14 games.
Within just 48 minutes Grosjean, keeping the pressure on with his brilliant backhands and trademark crunching forehands, went from being a setdown to a set ahead as he won the second and third with ease 6-1.
It was too much for Clinton - or perhaps he felt some way responsible for the negative shift in his compatriot's fortunes - as the former leader ofthe western world vacated his seat along with his entourage.
Right on cue, Agassi broke for a 2-0 lead in the fourth after saving a break point - and Clinton risked regaining his seat.
He must have wished he hadn't as Agassi dropped serve with a double fault to allow Grosjean to pull him back to 2-2.
A brilliant running low shot which dinked just millimetres over the net saw Grosjean move to 3-2 and he finally smashed Agassi's fading challengeas he broke for 5-3 on his third break point and then clinched victory with his 10th ace.
"I was a bit nervous at the beginning," said Grosjean, a 23-year-old from Marseille nicknamed the Skateboard Kid for the way he rushes around.
"He was hitting great but then the fans started cheering louder for me and that encouraged me. That gave me a big boost. There was so muchemotion out there.
"I tried to forget the first set and concentrate more on Agassi's game. I served better, cut down the racing about and varied my game, servinginto the body. He was in trouble and I got him on the counter attack."
Grosjean, an Australian Open semi-finalist in January now fourth in the Champions Race and a career best 10th on the ATP entry system, had losthis only other matchup with Agassi in the US Open first round three years ago.
Grosjean's only title to date was garnered on grass at Nottingham last year and he was determined to show his status has grown immensely sincethen.
With his sliced backhand taking the pace off the ball he was making his rival look almost slow, while Agassi's second serve points won percentagehad slumped to just 13 percent after the opening three sets and the American was unable to stem the tide.
Agassi denied the arrival of Clinton had any effect on him and said he had been well beaten on the day.
"Grosjean played real well. I played well but he played a lot better. It was tough conditions. The wind was moving about and he hit it better than Idid.
"It's pretty disappointing at the moment. Three matches more would have been much better."
PA