Date:15/06/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/06/15/stories/2003061503561700.htm

Sport - Tennis

Agassi enters last four, regains top spot

LONDON JUNE 14. Andre Agassi is back at No. 1. The American defeated Xavier Malisse 6-3, 7-5 at the Queen's Club on Friday to reach the semifinals of the grass-court Wimbledon warm-up.

The victory — coupled with Lleyton Hewitt's 3-6, 4-6 loss to Sebastian Grosjean — means Agassi will move up one spot to No. 1 in next week's ATP rankings. Hewitt will slip to No. 2.

``I wasn't aware of that,'' said Agassi, who now meets fellow American Andy Roddick for a place in Sunday's final. ``It feels amazing to accomplish it at this stage of my career, but I'd rather be No. 1 in my match tomorrow. One at a time.''

Roddick scored a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) victory over countryman Taylor Dent to set up the semifinal showdown with Agassi.

He gained two breaks to Dent's one in the first set and fought off two break points at 2-1 down in the second before wrapping the match up in the tiebreak.

In Friday's other quarterfinal, seventh-seeded Tim Henman of Britain beat Anthony Dupuis of France, 6-1, 6-4. He will face Grosjean the semifinals.

Agassi survived 16 aces by Malisse — including four in a row in one game — to reach the semifinals in his first appearance here in three years.

Agassi took the first set when Malisse double-faulted to drop his serve in the third game. Agassi then withstood a barrage of aces from the Belgian, who hit four in a row to lead 5-4 in the second set.

Malisse netted a forehand at 5-5 to give Agassi the only break and the chance to serve out for a comfortable victory.

Bhupathi-Mirnyi duo

in last four

Bhupathi and Mirnyi, seeded second, subdued the Australian duo Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) in the quarterfinals, according to information received in New Delhi.

Earlier in the second round, the Indo-Belarussian pair defeated Jarkko Nieminen of Finland and Raemon Sluiter of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4.

Bhupathi and Mirnyi next play Xavier Malisse of Belgium and Andre Sa of Brazil in the semifinals.

The results (quarterfinals): Sebastien Grosjean bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4; Tim Henman bt Anthony Dupuis 6-1, 6-4; Andre Agassi bt Xavier Malisse 6-4, 7-5; Andy Roddick bt Taylor Dent 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). — AP & PTI