Hewitt digs deep to win
The Finn led by one set to love and by two sets to one but Hewitt never gave up and eventually saw off the brave Nieminen challenge 2-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-1. Hewitt’s prize is a match against either Roger Federer or David Nalbandian.
Andre Agassi produced one of the most incredible comebacks in his US Open history on Wednesday night as he rallied to beat American wild card James Blake 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 to reach the semi-finals.
The 35-year-old seventh seed trailed by two sets and a break at 3-2 and Blake served for the match at 5-3 in the final set but Agassi snatched the tiebreak 8-6 to set up a clash with another American, Robby Ginepri.
“I never felt like I was going to win this match but somehow I just found the way,” Agassi said. “I could have been off this court in an hour and 20 minutes but I just hung in there somehow.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this good here before.”
In front of a packed crowd on Arthur Ashe Court, Agassi was outplayed early on by a rampant Blake, who was playing in his first grand slam quarter-final. Ripping forehand winners at will and running down everything, Blake bullied Agassi as he stormed to a two sets lead and broke Agassi’s serve to lead 3-2 in the third.
With the finishing line in sight, though, Blake suddenly tightened up and Agassi, the champion in 1994 and 1999, sensed it.
The 35-year-old broke back immediately, won the next three games to take the third set and with Blake visibly tiring, he took the fourth to take it into a decider.
With the crowd roaring him on, Agassi looked the fresher at the start of the final set, but Blake broke in the fifth game and served for the match at 5-3 only for Agassi to play an astonishing game to break back. The two traded blows to force a tie-break and once again Blake struck first, moving ahead 3-0 but Agassi rebounded to force match point at 6-5. Blake hammered a forehand winner down the line to save it, but Agassi then forced another with an audacious drop shot and backhand pass and then clinched the dramatic victory with a winning forehand return.
In the end James Blake, like the rest of Flushing Meadows, had no choice but to embrace the legend.
On a day when American world number one Lindsay Davenport was beaten by a Russian with one of the worst serves in women’s tennis, Agassi and his wild card opponent combined to send the host nation’s spirits soaring.
Blake, who had saved one match point with a forehand punch down the line, bore his scarcely deserved defeat with the grace of a man grateful to have played his part in a great sporting moment.
“It couldn’t have been more fun to lose,” said the 25-year-old as he congratulated a player he admits is his idol at the net. “I want to see you do it again.”
In the Women’s competition, Lindsey Davenport stumbled out of the tournament after a 6-1 3-6 7-6 defeat by sixth seed Elena Dementieva, who fully deserved her win despite serving 12 double-faults to take her five-match tally to 62.
The Russian, runner-up last year, will face Mary Pierce in the semi-finals after the rejuvenated Frenchwoman thrashed third seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-1.
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