Federer battles wind to beat Agassi

Gusting winds and a gutsy Andre Agassi were not enough to blow Roger Federer away.

Federer moved into his first US Open semi-final, completing a five-set thriller over Agassi and justifying his status as the top-ranked player in the world.

The most anticipated match of the tournament to date was suspended by rain last night with Federer leading 6-3 2-6 7-5.

Play resumed amid swirling winds, and Agassi, a two-time US Open champion, drew even by winning the fourth set 6-3. But Federer kept his composure, breaking Agassi in the ninth game and serving out the set and the match 6-3.

“This is one of the toughest experiences I have had with the wind in a match situation,” Federer said.“I am so happy to have coped well with that.”

Federer has already won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year and is trying to become the first man to claim three Grand Slams in one season since Mats Wilander in 1988. The Swiss star also can become the first player to win Wimbledon and the US Open back-to-back since Pete Sampras in 1995.

Federer will continue that quest when he meets fifth seed Tim Henman on Saturday. Henman moved into his first US Open semi-final by completing a 6-1 7-5 5-7 6-2 win over 22nd seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia.

The 34-year-old Agassi tried to prove he still belongs among the tennis elite. He accomplished that in defeat, pushing the powerful Federer to the limit.

Among the admirers was the 23-year-old Federer, who scoffed at any suggestion that Agassi has lost a step.

“We all have great respect for Andre,” Federer said. “I know he is a little older than me, but it is not like he is 50 or 60. He can still run and play.”

Agassi finally broke in the eighth game of the fourth set, catching a break when a forehand shot from the baseline hit the top of the net and bounced over. With momentum on his side, Agassi served out the set. Agassi squandered a game point in the eighth game of the final set, with Federer earning the break when a shot by Agassi went long. Another long shot from the baseline in the ninth game closed out the match.

“I came out here feeling like I was playing the better tennis and I thought that it could be a really good day for me,” Agassi said.

“I am just disappointed the way things worked toward the end. But he dealt with it better than I did.”

The defeat did nothing to break Agassi’s spirit, and he ended any speculation that he might consider retirement.

“I am going to keep going as long as I feel I have a realistic hope of putting together great matches and finding a way to win,” Agassi said.

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, the 2001 champion, cruised into the semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 6-2 win over Germany’s Tommy Haas, the lone unseeded man remaining in the quarter-finals.

Hewitt, the fourth seed, needed just 98 minutes to dispatch Haas and reach the semi-final of a major for the first time since the 2002 US Open. He has won four titles this year, all on hard courts.

“I am playing well at the moment,” Hewitt said. “I just have to keep it going. I am looking forward to the next hurdle.”

The lop-sided loss ended what had been an impressive run for Haas, who missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery. But Haas could not overcome 28 unforced errors as compared to just 10 for Hewitt.

Hewitt will face 28th seed Joachim Johansson of Sweden after his surprise win over Andy Roddick.