Norman, Safin win in fifth-set tie-breakers

The 24-year-old Swede clawed his way back from two sets down and saved four match points before claiming a 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 7-6 (11-9) victory over relentless serve-and-volleyer Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

"It’s an unbelievable feeling," said Norman, who won on his third match point of the tie-breaker when he whipped a backhand cross court passing shot that Mirnyi dove for at the net but could not return.

Safin won the first two sets but then had to fight for his Open life against Sebastien Grosjean of France, who battled the 20-year-old Russian valiantly before falling 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).

After enduring two lengthy rain delays totalling three hours, the second lasting one hour and 40 minutes, Safin and Grosjean returned to Arthur Ashe Stadium court to pick up their climactic tie-breaker with the Russian leading 5-4 and the Frenchman serving the next two points.

On the seventh day, the men found little rest at the Open.

Day 7 of the championships also saw Australian qualifier Wayne Arthurs of Australia, who ousted Kuerten in the opening round, go five sets before vanquishing compatriot Richard Fromberg 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 12th seed, needed to win a fourth-set tie-breaker that was also interrupted by the rain before dismissing Swiss Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 7-6 (8-6) to earn a fourth-round match against Safin.

American Jan-Michael Gambill also needed a fourth-set tie-breaker to advance past Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1).

Earlier, 14th-seeded Nicolas Kiefer of Germany stayed dry by scooting into the fourth round with a straight-sets win over Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands.

The 23-year-old Kiefer won the battle of former US Open boys’ singles champions 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in the only match completed before the rains came.

Kiefer will meet Norman in the fourth round.

NORMAN’S CONQUEST BEST OF TOURNAMENT

Norman’s conquest of Mirnyi came in the longest — and best– match of the tournament so far. The duel featured a stark contrast of styles and an ebb and flow that had the crowd nearly as exhausted as the players by the end.

Mirnyi camped at the net at every opportunity, testingNorman’s firepower after every second serve from the Swede. The Belarussian rushed the net 173 Times, winning 92 of those points.

Norman came to net just 18 Times, making good on 16 of hisforays.

In the 12th game of the fifth set, trailing 5-6, Normannetted a forehand passing shot to fall behind 15-40 for double match point.

A service winner and a beautiful backhand lob over theever-charging Mirnyi rescued Norman, who won the next two points as well to force the tiebreaker.

Norman stormed out to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker, but thebig Belarussian won the next three points to level it at 5-5. Each player saved a pair of match points in the tiebreaker, Norman wriggling out of the second one with yet another delicately struck backhand topspin lob that Mirnyi could only look up at in wonder.

After rifling the last passing shot of the match, one thatLeft Mirnyi sprawling on the hard court, Norman sank o his knees and pumped his fist before pulling off his red shirt and shouting in triumph.

"Obviously it was a great match. One of the most thrillingI have been a part of," said Norman, winner of four tournament titles this year. "I’M Just happy that I’M Here as the winner. It could have gone either way.

WOMEN’S SEEDS MARCH THROUGH

The women’s seeds marched steadily into the quarter-finals,with all the winners advancing without the loss of a set.

Wimbledon champion Venus Williams, the third seed, sweptSpain’s Magui Serna 6-2 6-2, sixth-seeded Monica Seles beat fellow-American Jennifer Capriati 6-3 6-4 and eighth seed Nathalie Tauziat of France defeated 1994 Open champion Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of Spain, the ninth seed, 6-3 6-2.