Agassi sends Philippoussis down under

The shaven-headed Las Vegan turned in an awesome lesson of grass court tennis 8212; though he made the Centre Court crowd wait at the end, double faulting on triple match point. The tension broke seconds later, however, as a dejected Philippoussis fired into the tramlines to finish well beaten.

Agassi treated the first few games of the encounter as sparring practice and had to save a break point at 2-3 in the opening set. Two games later a wonderful passing shot gave him one of his own which Philippoussis saved with one of his trademark monster serves to hold for 4-3. Philippoussis, who came into the match on the back of a record 5 hour one minute third-round win over Dutchman Sjeng Schalken and a five-setter against British eighth seed Tim Henman, started brightly enough.

Several running forehands showed his game is not just about a howitzer of a serve topping 195 kph. In the first set tie-break, however, Agassi started to wear him down. The contrast in styles between the two men was evidenced by a brilliant Agassi lob which clipped the line 8211; Philippoussis responding with his seventh ace. The Australian, nicknamed Scud, would win the ace count 22-7 8211; but he wouldn8217;t win much else as he made 53 unforced errors to Agassi8217;s 38.

A brilliant Agassi forehand return on a serve which was massive even by Philippoussis8217; standards brought the American a mini-break for 5-3. Given three set points to play with, Agassi slapped a forehand return into the net on the first but the Las Vegan8217;s first ace of the match brought him the set in 50 minutes.

Agassi, title winner here eight years ago, was producing his whole repertoire of shots 8212; a series of running lobs among his favourites 8212; and took command in the second set. Philippoussis needed three aces to level for 2-2 but he was increasingly coming under pressure as Agassi began to give him the run-around before breaking in the seventh game as the Australian hit two double faults.

Agassi then had to dig deep to save two break points but a vicious forehand drive wrong-footed him and he had to save a third. He got back to deuce and an ace and a brilliant forehand down the line gave him the set.

Philippoussis fell over on the rain-moistened turf as he tried to hold for 2-1 but Agassi passed him to break and then held to love to motor into a 3-1 lead. Philippoussis, who had a 1-3 career record against the Las Vegan before Wednesday8217;s match, held but then spurned a break point 8212; his fifth of the match with all going begging. Agassi8217;s ratio in crucial contrast was two breaks from his first four. Philippoussis held for 4-5 but Agassi served out to love 8212; the double fault a minor irritation.

Defending champion Pete Sampras followed Agassi onto Centre Court to face unseeded fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill while qualifier Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus was facing Zimbabwe8217;s Byron Black, another non-seed, on Court One. Rafter, who has yet to meet a seeded player, warmed up for Agassi as he raced to his second straight semi-final here.

The Queenslander raced to 4-1 leads in the opening two sets 8212; the first took just 31 minutes 8212; as Popp, playing in only his second Grand Slam event, failed to mask his nervousness. Popp8217;s shoulders slumped as he netted a forehand, registering a 36th unforced error as he fell two sets behind after just 56 minutes.

The two-time US Open champion Rafter, who won the warm-up event at Rosmalen in the Netherlands a fortnight ago, broke for 4-3 and although Popp held his next service game that appeared to be his last hurrah. It wasn8217;t quite as Popp pulled out four stupendous returns, the last a crosscourt back hand, as he broke to love for 5-5 and then held.

But Rafter held for 6-6 and the 27-year-old raced to a 3-0 lead in the tie-break as he recovered his composure after a rocky period. Popp fired into the tramlines and his brave attempt was over. For the German, 10 double faults and 60 unforced errors 8212; compared to four and 24 for his opponent 8212; told their own story. AFP