TENNIS/Australian Open: Andre Agassi, only two victories away from his fourth Australian Open title in five years, and fifth in all, probably laughed himself to sleep.
Whereas he had reached the last four courtesy of France's Sebastien Grosjean pulling up lame when trailing 6-2, 2-0, Marat Safin, his semi-final opponent tomorrow, had been involved in a three-hour, 23-minute, toe-to-toe, five-set battle of quite extraordinary intensity against Andy Roddick, the world number one.
Safin, who missed a huge chunk of last year with a left-wrist injury, including Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, had already played one five-set and three four-set matches before the night's colossal encounter, and will surely find it immensely hard to summon up more energy.
He will need to come out of the blocks at a tremendous lick against the 33-year-old Agassi, who holds a 3-1 career lead over the Russian and will instantly go for the jugular.
Which is precisely what Roddick attempted, whistling through the first set in 27 minutes. And with the American 1-0 up in the second, Safin called for the trainer, having seemingly injured his upper thigh. The tournament referee, Peter Bellenger, probably had a fit, having seen Grosjean and Amelie Mauresmo pull out earlier in the day.
But whatever was troubling Safin, on what was his 24th birthday, passed as quickly as a cloud over the moon.
Roddick had put his jacket on, perhaps anticipating an early exit; three hours or so later he was waving everybody goodbye, Safin having won 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4.
Come next Monday, Roddick will be the world number one no longer, having claimed the year-end top spot at the Masters Cup in Houston. Before his quarter-final against Safin he had won his previous four matches in straight sets. Life was a gas; life was a breeze. And then over the horizon sprang the Russian grizzly, who swiped him across the face with a paw the size of a frying pan.
Safin was much missed last year. In 2000, he had won the US Open, not so much beating Pete Sampras as tearing him limb from limb. That same year Safin briefly became the world number one, but it was not long before the word was out that he was enjoying himself so much off court that his tennis had taken a secondary role.
In 2002, he should have won the title here, but unaccountably lost to Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the final.
Thereafter, and despite helping Russia win their first Davis Cup, his career went into free fall, compounded by the wrist injury which he eventually got sorted out last year in Los Angeles.
Then, last month, Safin pounded the roads in preparation for a fresh start. He arrived in Australia with two trainers and his mother, Rausa Islanova, who had coached him in his formative years. Gone were the girls - or at least most of them - and it was obvious he had a new resolve.
But there was drama until the end yesterday. Having broken Roddick for a 5-4 lead in the final set, Safin was immediately 15-40 down on his serve. An ace brought the score back to 30-40, with Roddick biting his knuckles. Then Roddick crucially missed a forehand off a Safin second serve that dribbled over the net.
Deuce, and everything to play for - exactly the sort of situation that Safin has so often blown. But not this time. Two forehand volleys and the match was his. Roddick waved and strode off; Safin lingered and had 15,000 sing Happy Birthday to him.
And so on to Agassi. "I come down here ready and prepared, which always gives my confidence a boost," said the reigning champion. "The last time I played Marat was in Lisbon during the Masters Cup in 2000 and he was going for the number one spot. I beat him 6-3, 6-3, but he has a huge serve and that worries me a little bit. Monster forehand is a bit concerning too, as well as a backhand that he can crush in both directions. And the fact that he moves well is also a little unsettling."
Agassi laughed. And it was the laugh of someone who believes he can win.- Guardian Service
MELBOURNE RESULTS
MEN'S QUARTER-FINALS
(4) A Agassi (US) bt (9) S Grosjean (Fra) 6-2 2-0 ret; M Safin (Rus) bt (1) A Roddick (USA) 2-6 6-3 7-5 6-7 (0-7) 6-4.
WOMEN'S QUARTER-FINALS
(32) F Zuluaga (Col) bt (4) A Mauresmo (Fra) w/o; J Henin-Hardenne (Bel) bt (5) Lindsay Davenport (US) 7-5 6-3.
MEN'S DOUBLES QUARTER-FINALS
(9) G Etlis (Arg) & M Rodriguez (Arg) bt (4) M Knowles (Bah) & D Nestor (Can) 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (6-8) 6-3; (5) M Llodra (Fra) & F Santoro (Fra) bt (2) M Bhupathi (Ind) & Max Mirnyi (Blr) 6-3 6-4.
WOMEN'S DOUBLES QUARTER-FINALS
(3) L Huber (Rsa) & A Sugiyama (Jpn) bt J Husarova (Svk) & D Safina (Rus) 6-2 6-3, (4) S Kuznetsova (Rus) & E Likhovtseva (Rus) bt Z Yan (Chn) & J Zheng (Chn) 6-4 6-4, (1) V Ruano Pascual (Spa) & P Suarez (Arg) bt E Gagliardi (Swi) & R Vinci (Ita) 6-3 6-2, M Ani (Est) & L Prusova (Cze) bt (6) M Vento-Kabchi (Ven) & A Widjaja (Ina) 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
