Sport - Tennis

Agassi overshadows Roddick

MASON, AUG. 8. Andre Agassi came up with another outstanding performance to register a thrilling 7-5, 6-7(2), 7-6(2) victory over U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick in the semifinals of the Master Series here on Saturday. Agassi reached his first final in nine months and will meet Australia's Lleyton Hewitt who beat Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 6-2.

The winner of all four Grand Slams, Agassi was back to his brilliant best, producing a remarkable display of accurate serving, lethal groundstrokes and breathtaking counter-punches.

``I've been answering questions about retirement all the time, but not tonight,'' the 34-year-old quipped.

Agassi then enthused about the atmosphere in the stadium. ``You get a rush of blood and the hair on your body stands up, which in my case is a lot of hairs!'' he said, running a hand over his shaven pate.

The No. 11 seed compared the match to his 2001 U.S. Open encounter against Pete Sampras, which is regarded by many as one of the greatest. This one was special not only for continuous great rallies but for contrasts as well.

Roddick served 29 aces, which in many cases would have won him the match. However, Agassi's reflexes and timing enabled him to break Roddick's serve at 6-5 — the only break of the match — which got him the first set and in the deciding tie-breaker, Agassi scored two points on Roddick's serve.

It was hard for the 21-year-old to digest, not only because he was losing a title and suffering a hiccup before the Olympics, but because it was hard to know what else he might do.

Several times Roddick gestured in dismay, once he kicked an advertising board with a loud crash and was booed, and during one changeover he had a long argument with umpire Norm Chryst, calling him ``hopeless.''

But this was a testy rather than churlish display by Roddick, who played a full part in an exhilarating spectacle which repeatedly had a full house on its feet.

``You guys had him written off seven years ago,'' Roddick said. ``He thrives on that. Part of me is happy that he let his racket do the talking, and it's saying something.''

Asked if he was surprised how Agassi returned his serve, Roddick replied caustically: ``He's the best returner in the world. It's a bit like asking him if he's surprised that I served hard.''

In the first semifinal, Hewitt was full of his trademark counter-hitting and fierce refusal to give up any cause. Quite unusually it also featured unusually potent serving. ``I was just trying to clean up my service games and wait for an opportunity — and I got it,'' Hewitt said.

Mauresmo vs. Likhovtseva

At the Rogers Cup in Montreal, former champion Amelie Mauresmo advanced to the final with a 7-6(6), 6-2 verdict against Russia's Vera Zvonareva.

The second seeded Frenchwoman will face unseeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva, who stunned third-seeded compatriot Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Mauresmo rallied to take the first set in the tie-breaker and overcame a rain delay to win her match against the 10th-seeded Zvonareva. It was the 2002 champion's fourth victory in as many career matches against Zvonareva.

Molik triumphs

In the Nordic Light Open at Stockholm, third-seeded Alicia Molik of Australia trounced unseeded Tatiana Perebiynis of Ukraine 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday to win the Nordic Light Open.

Always in command, Molik needed just an hour to clinch her second WTA Tour singles title after winning at Hobart, Australia, last year.

Molik did not lose a set in her five matches in the Swedish capital. Before coming to Stockholm, Molik upset third-ranked Amelie Mauresmo of France in San Diego which boosted her confidence.

The results:

At Mason (ATP Masters): semifinals: Andre Agassi bt Andy Roddick 7-5, 6-7(2), 7-6(2); Lleyton Hewitt bt Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-2.

At Montreal (Rogers Cup, WTA event): semifinals: Amelie Mauresmo bt Vera Zvonareva 7-6(6), 6-2; Elena Likhovtseva bt Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

At Stockholm (Nordic Light Open, WTA event): (final): Alicia Molik bt Tatiana Perebiynis 6-1, 6-1. Semifinals: Alicia Molik bt Silvia Farina Elia 7-5, 6-3; Tatiana Perebiynis bt Sandra Kleinova 7-5, 6-3. — Agencies

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