Andre Agassi, 35 years young, took a pounding for two sets from James Blake, pounced on him for two more, then survived a tiebreaker in a wondrous five-set drama reminiscent of Jimmy Connors' legendary run to the US Open semifinals at 39.
Rendered helpless at the start by Blake's dazzling speed and precision, Agassi asserted himself against his fellow American in the third set, turned the match around and looked fresher at the end of a 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (6) triumph that put him in the semis -- two wins from capturing the title he won in 1994 and '99.
"It couldn't have been more fun to lose," Blake told Agassi as they embraced at the net and were given a long standing ovation in a still-packed Arthur Ashe Stadium.
PHOTO: AP
"At 1:15 in the morning for 20,000 people to still be here, I wasn't the winner, tennis was," Agassi told the crowd. "I don't know if I've ever felt this good here before."
Awaiting Agassi tomorrow will be American Davis Cup teammate Robby Ginepri, an unsung, unseeded 22-year-old who reached his first major semifinal.
"Saturday is going to be a blast," Agassi said. "The whole weekend is going to be a blast."
PHOTO: EPA
Ginepri gutted his way out of trouble and got the gift of Guillermo Coria's 13th and 14th double-faults on the last two points to win his third straight five-setter against a seeded player, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, and guarantee that an American will play in the final.
"It's all a big blur right now," Agassi said of his 2-hour, 51-minute duel with Blake, which ended with Agassi's final forehand winner smacking the sideline.
"It's always great when the end of a match is decided by quality shots and somebody winning it instead of somebody losing it. I question myself every day. That's what I still find motivating about this. I don't have the answers, I don't pretend that I do just because I won the match. Just keep fighting and maybe something good happens," he said.
Agassi, playing in his 20th straight US Open, said that a match like this one against Blake "means as much to me as doing it in the finals."
"It's about authentic competition, getting out there and having respect for each other's game, respect for each other's person, letting it fly and letting it just be about tennis," he said.
"It's all a bit surreal. I get out there and I try to work and I come off the court and many times in my career I feel like it's been a dream. That's how it is here. It's a dream to be doing this. I feel same way with the my children, feel same way off the court. It's all surprising to me," Agassi said.
When someone brought up the R-word -- retirement -- Agassi was at a loss for a simple answer.
"When I get asked that question, I'm just a bit numb to it really," Agassi said. "All I can say is how I feel ... I don't know what's going to happen."
Like Connors' long matches in 1991, Agassi has had to dig down deep to go to the semis, winning a five-setter for the second straight round.
At 25, 10 years younger than Agassi, Blake was faster, sharper and stronger -- for two sets. The difference between them wasn't age. It was Blake playing in a magical zone, clicking in every aspect of his game while Agassi played merely good, decent tennis.
That changed in the third set, when Agassi raised his game and Blake fell back to earth. In the fifth set, Blake recovered enough to break Agassi for a 3-2 lead, then had a chance to serve out the match at 5-4. But Agassi crushed a couple of returns and broke back. They played on to the tiebreak, where Agassi won on his second match point.
Blake said he felt as good as is possible after a loss.
"I fought my heart out, did everything I could," he said. "He played a little too good. He really started going for broke on some of those, and champions make those. I'm happy for the game of tennis. This match was hyped four or five days ago and I feel like at least it lived up to it. If there's anyone I'm cheering for, it's Andre."
Ginepri is nowhere near as fast but is a strong baseliner who could be just as dangerous for Agassi.
"The last three matches took so much out of me, I'm just dead right now," Ginepri told the crowd as his family, suffering and celebrating on alternate points, watched from the players' box. His sister, Jenni, took photos as he spoke.
"I don't know how I got through that match. I don't know what's going on right now. I'm a little foggy, a little dizzy. It's crazy. Crazy!" he said.
Almost as crazy was top-ranked Lindsay Davenport, the 1998 champion, getting thumped in the first set by last year's finalist, sixth-seeded Elena Dementieva, and losing a match of epic sloppiness, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (6).
"It seems like a lucky place for me," said Dementieva, who overcame 12 double-faults and had 43 unforced errors to Davenport's 56. "After last year I'm still dreaming about Saturday night every single day, so who knows."
Dementieva will play Friday against No. 12 Mary Pierce, the 2000 French Open and 1995 Australian winner who advanced to her first US Open semifinals by beating fellow Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-1.
"It's amazing," said Pierce, who reached the French Open final in June. "I'm 30, 17th year on the tour, and there's still firsts for me. That's pretty exciting."
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