News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 20 years ago
Rediff.com  » Sports » Americans fly high at the open

Americans fly high at the open

September 06, 2003 16:32 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick have kept the stars and stripes flying high over Flushing Meadows, booking semi-final spots to stay on course for an all-American U.S. Open final.

World number one Agassi blasted his way past a patched-up Guillermo Coria 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 to reach his ninth U.S. Open semi-final.

In the bottom half of the draw, Roddick walloped Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the last four here for the first time.

Agassi's victory over the fifth-seeded Argentine earned him a shot at Juan Carlos Ferrero for a place in Sunday's final. Roddick will face David Nalbandian.

"This is what it all boils down to," Agassi said. "Especially here at the Open... it's where I'm from.

"This weekend will be one heck of an opportunity for pretty special memories. I'll go out there with great excitement."

Third seed Ferrero is also smacking his lips at the prospect of Saturday's clash with top seed Agassi.

"It's exciting, I am playing good tennis here in New York," the Spaniard said after beating 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1.

"It's gonna be a tough match because Andre is playing great ... it's gonna be very tough for me playing Andre here with all the crowd supporting him."

With Agassi gathering speed as he gallops through the draw, it will indeed be tough for the French Open champion.

On Friday, Argentine Coria was put to the sword.

Suffering from a left hamstring injury and with blood pouring from a cut thumb, Coria struggled with his movement for most of the contest under blue Flushing Meadows skies.

MORE CONSISTENT

Agassi, beaten by Coria at Roland Garros earlier this year, clinched the match with aggressive hitting from the back and is looking forward to facing Ferrero.

"I've beaten a lot of Grand Slam champions handily and I've lost to many of them," Agassi said.

"It's about what you bring to the table that day."

Roddick demolished his Dutch opponent, a semi-finalist here last year. Schalken, the 12th seed, is respected as one of the more consistent players on the tour but he never came close to troubling the in-form 21-year-old American.

Even one unexpected blip, when Schalken broke serve to trail 5-4 in the first set, was quickly corrected, for Roddick immediately broke again to take the set.

Achieved in just one hour 25 minutes, it was Roddick's 17th consecutive win and sets up a semi-final match with Nalbandian.

"I'm definitely going to take a holiday after this tournament," Roddick laughed. "But it ain't over yet."

Nalbandian ended the colourful run of Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui with a 7-6, 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 win.

Nalbandian had knocked Wimbledon champion Roger Federer out in the last round and proved too strong for the Moroccan.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024