Agassi silences Kafelnikov

Mirroring their semifinal at the 1999 US Open, Agassi was slow to get off the mark and Kafelnikov charged into the match, moving the American around the court and punching away volleys.

But after the Russian ran away with the first four games and wrapped up the first set with his third break of Agassi8217;s serve, he got only one more opportunity to break the Las Vegan in the entire two hour and 19 minute match.

The contest settled into equilibrium in the second set with intense rallies,both men hitting the ball deep down the lines and into the corners with awesome power.

8220;It quickly turned into a physical match,8221; Agassi said.

In one memorable rally, the men slugged at each other from the baseline before Agassi drew Kafelnikov into the net with a drop shot. The pair traded short balls until the Russian volleyed one just past Agassi.

The American hit a brilliant forehand to Kafelnikov8217;s feet to get a 15-40 advantage in the eighth game of the second set. Kafelnikov replied with an ace next ball but hit a forehand long on the next point to give Agassi a crucial break. Down 3-5, Kafelnikov fought hard to hold on to the set and forced Agassi to use deft drop shots but eventually the Russian lost the fight returning a serve into the net on Agassi8217;s fourth set point.

It was downhill from there for Kafelnikov as he dropped his service twice at the beginning of the third set. 8220;Andre sensed I was getting a little tired and raised his game,8221; Kafelnikov said.

8220;It8217;s amazing how he canrecover from losing the first set and basically continue to raise his game in the second, third and towards the end of his matches.8221;

At 1-3 down in the third Kafelnikov enjoyed his one and only break point outside the first set, only to hit a backhand into the net after a rally that Agassi had keep deliberately low and flat.

The inevitable conclusion was put off briefly when a quacking man, later identified as Australia8217;s most persistent gatecrasher, leaped on to the court with a video camera and hogged the stage until security guards dragged him off. Reuters

SILENT ON STEFFI: Agassi surprised a 15,000 crowd by avoiding mentioning his biggest fan after he beat Kafelnikov. Instead, the American talked of his coach, his trainer and 8220;loved ones8221; back home. But no word for former women8217;s great Steffi Graf, who watched all his matches for the last five months, and who was sitting in the stands.

Asked again on television why he did not say any thing about Steffi, he went on the defensive.8220;Certain things are sacred,8221; he said. 8220;Our relationship is for us and not the world.8221;

Agassi slams Sampras
MELBOURNE: Andre Agassi hammered Pete Sampras in the semi-final of the Australian Open and banged in the final nail on Sunday, saying his decision to miss the Sydney Olympics was a huge mistake. Davis Cup captain John McEnroe also had a dig at the 12-time Grand Slam winner for pulling out of the American Davis Cup squad for their opening tie against Zimbabwe starting in Harare next Friday, saying he had cried-off8217;.

8220;To not play the Olympics or to not want a gold medal or to compete for one, is a huge mistake,8221; said Agassi, who won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

8220;It8217;s one of the greatest things that I have accomplished in my career, and it8217;s not even about getting the second one, it8217;s about the honour of being part of it.8221;

Sampras says the Olympics is not in his schedule and he was giving precedence to Davis Cup under McEnroe. He missed Atlanta but played inthe 1992 Barcelona Olympics, failing to win a medal.