Top-ranked Andre Agassi and French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero advanced to a US Open semi-final showdown here while Andy Roddick won his 17th match in a row to set a date with David Nalbandian.Eight-time Grand Slam champion Agassi beat Argentine fifth-seeded Guillermo Coria 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 and Spanish third seed Ferrero won eight of the last nine games to oust six-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 yesterday.US fourth seed Roddick fired 15 aces to down Dutch 12th seed Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 while Argentina’s 13th seed Nalbandian outdueled 21st-ranked Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. Bhupathi-Mirnyi out NEW YORK: Defending champions Mahesh Bhupathiand Max Mirnyi crashed out of the US Open men’s double event suffering a shock defeat against Michael Llorda and Fabrice Santoro in the quarterfinals. Indo-Belarussian pair failed to get even a single break point during the last night match which they lost 2-6, 2-6 against the French pair. Both Bhupathi and his partner played miserably for most part of the match, which lasted only 46 minutes. Earlier Bhupathi and Mirnyi had booked a berth in the last eight beating 15th seed pair of Lucas Arnold and Mariano Hood. Agassi, who at 33 is the oldest man in the field and oldest to be ranked No 1, could become the oldest US Open champion since 1970 when Australian Ken Rosewall won at age 35. Agassi advanced to his ninth US Open semi-final.“This weekend will be one heck of an opportunity for some pretty special memories,” Agassi said. “I go out there with great excitement.”Ferrero agrees. He would overtake Agassi for the world No 1 ranking with a victory. “It would be big if I do it. I’ll be motivated because if I beat Andre, I’ll be number one,” Ferrero said. “It’s going to be very difficult for me with the crowd supporting him and all his experience here. It’s going to be very tough.”Meanwhile, Justine Henin-Hardenne scrambled to win a thrilling US Open semifinal 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) past midnight yesterday after Jennifer Capriati twice served for the match.By the time Henin-Hardenne emerged victorious, she gave herself 19 1/2 hours to recover to meet fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters in their first US Open final today.Each player won 127 points in the incredibly close match. “I gave everything I had,” Henin-Hardenne said. “I was cramping. Serving was very hard. I did my best. I could have lost this match. I am very happy.”“It’s very late. I need a good sleep.” After leaving the court, Henin-Hardenne was given IV fluids to treat dehydration.
