Agassi through to last four

Andre Agassi booked his place in the last four of the US Open today with a straight sets victory over Guillermo Coria of Argentina.

The top-seeded American, one of a handful of players to win all four Grand Slam events, showed no mercy to Coria, securing a 6-4 6-3 7-5 triumph at Flushing Meadows.

His reward for reaching the semi-finals is a tie with the victor of the match between Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and Lleyton Hewitt of Australia.

Ferrero, seeded three, duly booked into his showdown with Agassi when he overcame a poor start to see off Hewitt in four sets.

The sixth seed from Australia started well by winning the first set 6-4 but then was surrendered the second 6-3.

The crucial set was the third which went to a tie-break which the Spaniard won 7-5 and Hewitt then appeared to give up the ghost as Ferrero romped to victory by taking the fourth set, 6-1.

Next to book his semi-final spot was Andy Roddick of the United States.

Roddick, seeded four but considered by many the favourite to win what would be his maiden Grand Slam, had little trouble in disposing of Holland’s Sjeng Schalken.

Schalken, seeded 12, had no answer for the American hero who posted a 6-4 6-2 6-3 win.