Safin ends Agassi's run Down Under

Unseeded Russian Marat Safin drew on immense depths of stamina and determination to reach the Australian Open final and send defending champion Andre Agassi crashing out in five epic sets.

The 24-year-old survived a spirited comeback from Agassi before reaching his second Australian Open final with a dramatic 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (8/6) 5-7 1-6 6-3 victory in three hours and 41 minutes.