Agassi squeezes through in US Open

Andre Agassi moved into the last eight of the US Open on Monday but he was made to work for his fourth-round victory over Belgian Xavier Malisse.

The seventh-seeded American was forced to a fifth set by Malisse before ultimately prevailing 6-3 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 4-6 6-2.

With the victory, Agassi became only the fourth man aged 35 or older to reach the quarter-finals here.

The highest seed remaining in the bottom half of the draw, Agassi awaits either fellow American James Blake, a wild card, or 19th seed Tommy Robredo of Spain. On Saturday, Blake stunned second-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal.

After winning the first two sets, Agassi was up a mini-break at 5-4 in the third-set tiebreaker.

But the American lost both points on serve and Malisse won the next with a winner to take the set.

The Belgian took advantage of an early break to win the fourth set in just 28 minutes, setting up the decider.

However, Agassi broke Malisse in the fourth game and held thereafter, closing out the encounter in two hours, 55 minutes, with another service break.

Malisse had rallied from a two-set deficit to beat 24th seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in the third round but was unable to repeat the feat.

Also on Monday, eighth seed Guillermo Coria of Argentina beat Chilean Nicolas Massu 6-4 2-6 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 6-2 in four hours, 32 minutes – the longest match of the tournament so far.

Coria will meet the winner of Monday’s night match between 13th seed Richard Gasquet of France and American Robby Ginepri in the quarter-finals.