Rafter v Agassi - Set by Set
Ian Valentine 

Men's Semi-Final: Pat Rafter (AUS) v Andre Agassi (USA)

Rafter has beaten Agassi 6-2 3-6 6-3 2-6 8-6

First Set (24 min) Agassi 6-2
Second seed Andre Agassi made the first move of this greatly-anticipated match, breaking Australian Pat Rafter's second service game to take a 2-1 lead. Agassi seized the initiative after a Rafter double fault and sent back some awesome returns to take the game to love.

After holding his serve in the next game, Agassi pressed for a double break on Rafter's service. Rafter dug in to save a break point with an ace and then took advantage on deuce. However a lob by Agassi, followed by two sweet passing forehands, meant Rafter was down two breaks, 4-1. The rest of the set went to serve, with Agassi taking the set 6-2.

Second Set (31 min) Rafter 6-3
If Agassi thought the contest was going to be a formality, he was gravely mistaken. Rafter shrugged off the first set and quickly served out his first game to take a 1-0 lead. On Agassi's serve, the Australian showed his experience by mixing up his returns with deep approaches and drop-shots. Agassi became flustered and rushed, allowing Rafter to take his second break point for a 2-0 lead.

Agassi now knew he had a match on his hands, and pressed Rafter to 30-40 in his next service game. The No. 3 seed was able to find the big serve when he most needed it, though, and held serve for a healthy 3-0 lead in the second set. 

Agassi managed to hold serve in the next game, although there were still signs that Rafter was upsetting his rhythm. It needed a fortunate net cord on 40-30 to avoid further mishap.

The action became even more exciting in Rafter's next game as Agassi took the first two points with shots down the line. Rafter was then forced to find two top smashes from attempted lobs after exciting rallies, before finally sending a pinpoint accurate forehand on to the corner of the baseline for a 4-1 advantage.

Both men were now playing to their ability and trading exquisite winners. The crowd, full of Australians, seemed to be on Rafter's side, not least because they wanted the match to go the distance. Rafter didn't disappoint, holding his next serve to 15. After Agassi won the next game, Rafter served to take the set 6-3 and draw the scores level.

Third Set (37 min) Agassi 6-3
The intensity carried through to the third set, when Andre Agassi was forced to repel some blistering drives by Rafter. Even the mis-hits looked spectacular. Repel them he did, though, and held serve to 30 to win the first game.

It was then Rafter's turn to worry as Agassi found his range, especially with his two-handed backhands down the line. Rafter was taken to deuce but finally prevailed with some timely volleys, to draw level 1-1.

Every point brought new excitement. Rafter stretched Agassi with a delicate drop-shot, followed by a cross-court forehand winner. Agassi was up to it, though, and held serve at deuce.

Rafter brought it back to 2-2 in the next game from 15-30 following an amazing chase by Agassi. The American proved his speed and determination in the next game as well, running down a shot that hit the net. He duly held serve to take the third set to 3-2 on serve.

Agassi picked up on his second break point of the sixth game of the third set and unforced errors on Rafter's part put Agassi in the lead at 4-2.

Holding strongly on to his serve, Agassi dropped just one point in the next game, and increased his lead to 5-2.

Serving to stay in the set, Rafter served his 13th and 14th aces and quickly won the rest of the game to trail 3-5. However, it was Agassi who took the set, 6-3, after a strong final service game.

Fourth Set (28 min) Rafter 6-2
Rafter's strong serve put him in control of the first game of the fourth set, giving him a 1-0 lead.

A great return by Rafter at 0-40 in the second game gave him his first point but, once again, Agassi's great serving and returns equalled the scores at 1-1.

Rafter kept the aces coming in the third game, stopping Agassi from getting a point and giving him a 2-1 lead in the fourth set.

Agassi, still having lost his serve only once, kept his serves coming down the centre line and, combined with some great passing shots, evened the scores at 2-2.

A wide volley by Rafter and two excellent passing shots by Agassi tied scores at deuce in the fifth game, but Rafter managed to hold on and increased his game lead to 3-2.

A close line call cost Agassi the first point and a wide passing shot gave Rafter a 0-30 lead in the sixth game. Agassi evened the scores at 30-30 until Rafter won a long rally to give him the break point at 30-40. A wide shot by Agassi gave Rafter his second break and increased his lead to 4-2.

Rafter served his 20th ace of the match in the seventh game but some great shots by Agassi evened the scores at 30-30. Strong serving and volleying by Rafter gave him the game and increased his lead to 5-2.

With Agassi serving to stay in the set, Rafter pushed forward and earned two break points. Agassi saved the first, but a close line call went in Rafter's favour for him to break Agassi's serve to take the set and draw the match level for a second time.

Fifth Set (59 min) Rafter 8-6
As it looked as if Rafter was taking control of the match, the Australian self-destructed in his first service game. A double-fault and two missed touch volleys allowed Agassi to break for a vital 1-0 lead.

Agassi duly held serve, and all the pressure returned to Rafter. Agassi flew to 15-40 and it looked bleak for Rafter as the American took control of the point. However a magnificent reflex volley at the net kept Rafter in the match and he eventually saw off three further break points to take the game and keep his chances alive.

Agassi again comfortably held serve for 3-1, showing he too is an able serve-volleyer. He was back to his best by now, and played some blistering drives to gain another break point. Again Rafter dug in with some probing serves, including his 25th ace, to stay in touch in the fifth 2-3.

Agassi would not let the pressure drop and quickly served out to love, including two aces. On Rafter's next game, Agassi pulled off an impossible cross-court forehand winner, but Rafter looked much more assured as he served out to 15 for 3-4.

The American knew he just had to hold serve twice more to win. But so did Rafter and the Australian forced Agassi to 30-30. The Las Vegan was too strong, though, and Agassi held to make Rafter serve to stay in the match.

Rafter held his nerve and serve, helped by his 27th, 28th and 29th aces. 

At 2 sets all, 5-4 and new balls, Agassi stepped up to serve for a place in the Final. However, there was an air of certainty that the drama would continue, and Rafter played some some brilliant attacking tennis under the greatest pressure to break Agassi and prolong the match. The crowd, by this stage, was going wild.

Rafter now looked the favourite to win and eased through the next service game to take the lead finally at 6-5 in the fifth. It was Agassi now who was made to scramble as Rafter ran down two amazing chases to take it to 30-30. But Agassi is not a man to roll over easily, and served out with two brave second serves.

Six games apiece, and the game was in "sudden death". Rafter confidently took the first three points to 40-love, but back came the American with four screaming returns to earn a break point. Rafter replied with an exquisite stun volley. On the second deuce Agassi was given a code violation for an obscenity after a disputable line call, and Rafter served out for 7-6.

Agassi rushed the first point of the next game and found the net. Again Agassi erred on a forehand and it was 0-30. Rafter charged in after a return and earned three match points. Agassi found an immaculate winner to save the first, before a call from the crowd upset Rafter, causing him to mishit his return. On the third match point, however, he made no mistake with a return and won a famous match 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6. 

DEATH IN THE RAFTERNOON


THAT FINAL FEELING ... Rafter hails win that gives him another crack at Wimbledon

By SUNSPORT ONLINE REPORTER

ANDRE AGASSI called for the sun block but could not stop Pat Rafter from giving him a tanning.

The American baldie needed an emergency call to his trainer as the Centre Court rays threatened a burned bonce.

But it was war-painted rival Rafter who again emerged the winner in a titanic semi-final battle.

Twelve months ago the Australian beat Agassi at the identical stage of Wimbledon — then flopped in the final against Pete Sampras.

Once again, it was Death in the Rafternoon against the oldest man left in the tournament.

Rafter is on a mission to put the record straight and he showed just how serious he is with a 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 victory which took a minute under three hours.

Agassi, 31, played sublime tennis for long stretches and still finished up the loser, mainly because Rafter never knows when to quit.

The match was not just see-saw. The thrilled crowd were given a magical mystery tour as well.

The Las Vegas showman and the beach boy from Down Under can conjure up almost anything with their rackets and they did so yesterday.

Power and pace followed by artistry, vision and the lightest of touches.

Rafter said beforehand that the two players tend to gain inspiration from each other and that was the way it went again.

Agassi's watching girlfriend, Steffi Graf, was left to sympathise with her man.

Rafter's love, Lara Feltham, could not hide her smile of delight.

And Rafter admitted: "I don't know how I feel. It hasn't sunk in and I don't want to get carried away.

"I'm relieved and excited at the same time. I knew that if I kept serving aces then I would have a chance to break his serve.

"I'm just trying to play it like any other Slam. I don't feel under any pressure to win it."

Rafter, 29, intends to put his feet up at the end of the year and the sabbatical could turn out to be permanent.

This Wimbledon is only his 12th tournament of the year.

But he aims to make it count and add another Grand Slam to his two US Open titles.

Agassi had other ideas as he raced into action, taking the first set in 24 quick-fire minutes and breaking Rafter’s serve twice along the way.

The former champion is about to go to the top of the men's rankings. He certainly looked the king of Centre Court for periods yesterday.

But Rafter grabbed the all-important first break in the second set and hung in there.

Halfway through Agassi asked the trainer to apply some sun lotion while Rafter painted a couple of sunblock stripes under his eyes and opted for a baseball cap.

The temperature went up with the tennis too, Agassi grabbing his opportunity in the sixth game of the third set when Rafter started with a double fault and threw in a netted easy volley for good measure.

Agassi seemed to be heading for his first Wimbledon final since 1999 but the plan was knocked off track in the sixth game of the fourth set.

The American's serve came under threat thanks to a couple of dubious line calls and an unsettled Agassi aimed a backhand wide to gift Rafter the precious break.

And so to the decider and once again Rafter fluffed a stop-volley, followed it up with his sixth double fault and was left looking down both barrels.

Agassi, 5-4 up, just needed to serve out and book himself a place in tomorrow's showdown. He got within two points, too.

But Rafter reached for inspiration and came up with two perfect replies. The scores were tied again.

At 6-6 Agassi was again upset at a close call and as he muttered, a line judge reported him to umpire Mike Morrissey and he was reported for an audible obscenity.

After that, Agassi needed to serve to stay in the contest.

But his impeccable backhand deserted him and seconds later Rafter was raising his arms to acknowledge the applause.

The American admitted: "I thought I was playing well and I don't think there was any more I could have done.

"I had so many opportunities but he just kept coming up with the goods at the right time.

"He played better at the most important moments.

"The closer you get to winning, the harder it is when you don't. He won the fifth set decisively last year so this year is more disappointing.

"Right now it's hard to assess the quality of the match. I think it sucked."

Watch the video, Andre. You might change your mind.



SATURDAY JULY 07 2001

Rafter climbs off the ropes to deliver sucker punch

BY JULIAN MUSCAT

ANDRE AGASSI must have woken in a cold sweat. Pat Rafter was the monster in his nightmare, the one he riddled with bullets but who just refused to die.
The vision will torment Agassi for weeks to come. It stretched credulity to see Rafter survive to advance on his second Wimbledon final. Poor Agassi could hardly believe it: he had fired rockets at Rafter, who deflected them all before picking the American off like a sniper. He was given one chance; it was all he needed to triumph 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6.

But that was invariably the way of it. For this was Ali and Foreman on Centre Court, Agassi pounding rope-a-dope Rafter into a helpless submission. We all know what happened next. And the look on Agassi’s face was totally Foremanesque: shell-shocked, stunned, utterly exhausted.

While the plaudits belong to Rafter, let us dwell, for a moment, on Agassi’s tale of opportunity. Twice he held points for a 3-0 lead, then another break point for a 4-1 lead — each time with his service to follow. His game flowed, his mind was clear, his shots seemed perfectly calibrated. There could surely be no redemption when Agassi stepped forward at 5-4 to close out the match.

But that is when Rafter ambushed him. After 2 hours 43 minutes they were back where they started, level at 5-5 in the fifth. Again Agassi hoverd for the kill, four blistering returns sweeping him from 40-0 on the Rafter serve to break point No 6. And again, Rafter hauled himself back off the ropes and into contention.

Yet Agassi’s tale of opportunity does no justice to Rafter’s powers of denial. On the first of those break points, Agassi laced a return as only he can, Rafter somehow volleyed it back; Agassi moved in to crunch his pass but Rafter anticipated correctly, angling a ball destined to sever him at the waist into the unprotected court. This was pure fantasy tennis from Rafter and nearly three hours had elapsed when he inched ahead for the first time in the match.

It all seemed so implausible at the start, when Rafter, hesitant and nervy, was in danger of capitulating to a rampant opponent. His mood was illustrated vividly when, facing a second service break at 2-4, he failed to charge the net behind his second service and paid the price. He was paralysed by negative thought. Mind and body were at odds.

But Rafter regrouped at the changeover to emerge transformed. The match was on. From that moment he played with conviction, with a plan that required both nerve and pride. At that stage the only problem bothering Agassi was the sudden appearance of the sun, which obliged Bill Norris, the trainer, to rub suncream on his pate. Between points he walked with trademark swagger, the one that telegraphs his inner calm.

The final rites apart, the best passage of the match came at the start of set three. Both men vied for a lead that would take one to the edge of victory, the other to the jaws of defeat. The rallies were intense, the serving bold and incisive. The two juggernauts had reached full speed and were heading straight for each other.

It seemed then that any advantage would prove decisive. When Agassi seized it, you sensed he would carry his momentum right to the finish — which is what made Rafter’s revival so utterly improbable. Under threat on almost every service game in the fourth set, he refused to yield. His ace count soared, as it had to under Agassi’s withering assault. At 3-2, he was also favoured by a couple of disputed line calls that drove his opponent to distraction. The second of them took Rafter to break point, at which Agassi pushed a forehand wide to surrender the initiative.

Could Rafter sustain his effort in the concluding set? It seemed not as Agassi, flourishing his racket like a cutlass, pirated Rafter’s opening service game. Once more he was running loose, threatening humiliation. On he careered, the winning post looming. It was when he stepped up to serve at 5-4 that Rafter drew deep down into himself. Remarkably, he broke through by outrallying Agassi from the baseline before driving away a crisp volley that brought the match level at 5-5.

From there, there could only be one winner. Agassi’s swagger had surrendered to his darker side. With Rafter serving at 6-6, Agassi vented his spleen over another line call, nearly hitting the line judge with the ball in frustration. He was officially reprimanded and the end was upon him. The sucker punch was on its way. When it came, Agassi lifted his head only briefly from the canvas before he was counted out.


Rafter recovers against bad boy Agassi to reach another final

Australian wins gripping contest but claims he was lucky, writes Richard Jago

Saturday July 7, 2001
The Guardian

Patrick Rafter's wait for a chance to atone is over. Every day for a year he has relived the worst moment of his career when, he says, he "choked" against Pete Sampras in the Wimbledon final. Yesterday, by beating the former champion Andre Agassi 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6, he earned himself another tilt at the title.
He triumphed in a contest so riveting, containing such a fascinating contrast of styles, such a marvellous rapport between two utterly different, charismatic characters, and such a tortuous recovery by Rafter, that it was at least the equal of the classic semi-final they had last year. This time, though, it was flawed by moments when Agassi, who may never have another good chance of winning the title, could not contain his frustration and resentment.

The former champion complained so sulkily about one line decision that a section of the crowd booed him. On another occasion he swore loudly enough to upset a line judge, who came trotting dramatically all the way from her position at the back of the court to tell the umpire, which resulted in Agassi receiving a code violation warning. At the end he launched a ball into the back stop, nearly hitting the line judge who had made the tough call. He was lucky not to suffer further censure for that.

In the press conference the one-time king of glitz was caustic, embittered and almost unable to answer. Was the warning a little unfair? "Yeah, big time. I blame her husband for that," Agassi spat. What did he think about the quality of tennis? "I thought it sucked - really did."

Confronted by a sea of surprise at that remark, Agassi sought to explain. "That frustration won't allow me to size up the quality," he said. "I thought it was pretty disappointing." And when he added, "Right now it's hard to enjoy anything. I mean you know you just have to shake it off," the conference came sourly to a halt.

Rafter did his best to ease the mood. He had been lucky to win, he said. It had been a little unfair of the lady to report Agassi because not many people had heard what was said. And the fact that she had reported him had had some influence, he reckoned, on the outcome of the match.

This incident happened in the penultimate game, and after it Agassi seemed disturbed, slipping quickly to 0-40 on his serve. He saved two of the match points, only for Rafter to hit a high, slightly mishit topspin return which dropped just inside the line for a winner.

But feelings of frustration had been eating away at Agassi for much longer, ever since an incident in the middle of the fourth set. This happened when the games were going with serve at 30-30 in the fifth game and Rafter aimed a slice which landed close to a sideline. It might have been called in or out, and Rafter admitted that he would have accepted either decision, but it was called in, giving the Australian a break point which he converted.

"It floated and sat clearly wide, in my opinion," said Agassi. "That gave him the break and ultimately the fourth set. You know, you can't let that get the better of you." Unfortunately, as the ball-slamming incident showed, he did.

Nevertheless he made a tremendous push in the final set. The angles of his driving sharpened and pace of his counter-hitting increased, forcing Rafter to take gambles at the net whenever he could get there, and the consistency of Agassi's returns was so relentless it forced Rafter to increase his ratio of aces and service winners just in order to hold serve.

Agassi broke at once, with Rafter double-faulting twice as he overpressed, and Agassi then sought to make it a double break. He had him at 0-2, 15-40 and Rafter knew that he was a goner if he lost either of the next two points.

He responded with an athletically retrieved half-volley followed by a reflex short- range volley to save the first crisis, and a clumping, lurching ace to save the second.

There were two more break points to save that game, but at the end of it Rafter was still in the match, breathlessly hanging on by his teeth to the back of his opponent's trouser legs. Yet again he saved a break point in his next service game and, by instinct, courage and court coverage, remained at the American's heels when at 5-4 Agassi came to serve for the match.

Agassi got to 30-30 but no further. The crowd's noise surged to its highest level and from it Rafter seemed to take adrenalin. One chip-and-charge forced an Agassi counter-hit wide, earning a break-back point, and that inspired Rafter in his toughest rally.

He moved Agassi over with drives down the line, and the moment there was a gap he followed it with a bullying cross-court and a galloping charge to the net. When it earned him a volley he could not miss, Agassi's head went down.

Despite Agassi's cursing there was graciousness too after the denouement. He waited for the opponent he respects and allowed Rafter to acknowledge the cheers before leaving with him. Rafter returned the respect. "He was definitely the better player," said the Australian. "I just got lucky with one chance."

But Rafter's feelings about it all had not sunk in, and he did not want them to. There was a more important match to come. How did he feel about the final, about his second chance? "Well, I was saying 'relax' last time," he said, amid laughter. "'Relax, relax'. It didn't work. So maybe I might say: 'choke, choke.' And see what happens."

Last hurrah for Rafter
London, Great Britian, July 6 – Rafter wants one Grand Slam

The end is nigh for popular Australian Pat Rafter and he now has the chance to go out in style.

The 28-year-old Queenslander defeated Andre Agassi in a five set classic to reach the final for the second straight year.

Twelve months ago he ran into Pete Sampras at his best and lost in four sets in a rain-dampened final.

This year Sampras is no longer in the equation and Rafter, the third seed will start favourite against either British hope Tim Henman or Croatian wildcard Goran Ivanisevic.

Rafter has given every indication that he will retire at the end of this year, weakened by a succession of injuries and sapped by a decade touring the world in search of tennis glory.

He lost to Agassi in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January and was never in the hunt in the French Open in May-June which is played on clay, Rafter's worst surface.

That leaves Wimbledon and the US Open to go for Rafter. He already has two US titles to his credit so Wimbledon is the one he badly wants to round off an exemplary career. It would also make him the first Australian to win in southwest London since Pat Cash in 1987.

"I'll take any Grand Slam," said Rafter. "They're all very difficult to win and they're all very prestigious in their own little way.

"Wimbledon has always been something that's been pretty exciting for a lot of Australians.

"I think Wimbledon has always been probably traditionally the most exciting for us to win."

The disarmingly honest Rafter freely admits that he "choked" in last year's final against Sampras when he was a set up and leading in the second when the rain came down.

What were his plans for this year's final?" "Well, I was saying 'relax' last time. 'Relax, Relax.' It didn't work. Maybe I might say, 'Choke, choke.' See what happens," he said.

Whatever does happen, Rafter will have left his mark on Wimbledon as the latest in a long line of Australian greats stretching through Ken Rosewell, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe and on into the next generation of Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt.

Rafter rallies past Agassi
London, Great Britain, July 6 – Rafter makes final after a five-set thriller with Agassi

Patrick Rafter of Australia reached his second Wimbledon final outlasting old rival Andre Agassi of the United States 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 in another Centre Court epic between the two.

In the title-match on Sunday, third-seeded Rafter will play either Tim Henman of Britain, the sixth seed, or wildcard Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia.

It was a match of swinging fortunes with second-seeded Agassi first into his stride and Rafter slowly building up his momentum.

The match climaxed in a heart-stopping fifth set with Rafter hitting back from an early service break down to level after Agassi had failed to serve out for a place in the final.

Four games later, Rafter took the initiative again on the Agassi serve to move to three match points at 0-40 and on the third one he made good squeezing a shot past Agassi's backhand side.

A modest Rafter said that he had been "very, very lucky."

"I was just very fortunate to get through," he said.

"Nothing went his way today with the line calls and getting a code violation. I felt a little bit for him but I have got to enjoy the moment."

"He was the better player in the fifth set and I took the one opportunity I had," he added.

"There wasn't much I could do," said a distraught Agassi. "I was playing well and had so many opportunities but he just kept coming up with the goods at the right time."

"At the end of the day he played better at the most important moments. I am disappointed that I let an opportunity go by.”

At 31 years and two months, the American came into the match as the oldest Wimbledon semi-finalist since John McEnroe in 1992. It was Agassi who beat McEnroe then on his way to the title.

For 28-year-old Rafter it was in all probability his last Wimbledon campaign as he has given every indication that he will retire at the end of the year. His best performance came last year when he lost in four sets to Pete Sampras.

In what was the third year running that the pair had met in the Wimbledon semi-finals, Agassi blasted out of the blocks.

He held his opening serve to love and broke Rafter to love in the next game. He broke again two games later to lead 5-1 rifling a series of deadly passing shots past the net-charging Queenslander.

The American wrapped up the set 6-2 in just 24 minutes blasting a another backhand down the line.

Rafter, wearing lashings of white sun-screen on his face topped by a black headband, got the early break he needed in the second game of the second set to steady his ship.

The double US Open champion's heavy kick serve started to pose problems for Agassi giving the American less time and angles to measure his passing shots. Rafter comfortably held on to the break to take the set 6-3.

The match was on a knife-edge in the third with both men playing their best tennis similar to their two previous encounters here.

Games went with serve until the sixth game when Rafter lost his serve on two double faults and two sloppy volleys at the net for Agassi to lead 4-2.

The American then served out to take a two sets to one lead, Rafter failing to get back a big Agassi first serve on set point.

But in a similarly closely-contested fourth-set, it was Rafter this time who made the break in the sixth game and in the following, Agassi was infuriated by two line-calls which went against him at the end of long rallies.

Agassi was still fuming at the change-over demanding unsuccessfully that the chair umpire change the line-judge who had ruled against him.

He carried his frustration over into the next game which Rafter won with ease to level the sets at 2-2.

Agassi called on all his years of experience to compose himself for the deciding set, and he was given a gift of a break in the opening game when Rafter produced two more double faults and two missed drop volleys.

Rafter had his back to the wall saving break points in the second and fourth games to keep himself in the match.

But then in a tension-filled 10th game with Agassi serving for the match Rafter hurled himself into the net at every opportunity unsettling Agassi into making mistakes.

Agassi was getting agitated and was given a code violation for a verbal obscenity before he cracked one final time in the 14th game allowing Rafter to wrap up the match in one minute short of three hours.

July 7, 2001 
SPORTS OF THE TIMES

Agassi's Goodbye at Wimbledon Turns Ugly

By HARVEY ARATON

WIMBLEDON, England -- Only the uninitiated tennis fan or the head of an American television network could really be saddened by Patrick Rafter's fifth-set reversal of fortune against Andre Agassi here yesterday, considering the gentleman who won the right to move on and the retro Agassi who petulantly stormed home.

What seemed to be an indisputable case of survival of the fittest suddenly became an inspirational study of perseverance by one player against another throwing a fit.Rafter twice rallied from a set behind, fought off virtual match points during the fifth set, withstood Agassi's serving for the match and rose to win, 2-6, 6-3, 3- 6, 6-2, 8-6, to reach his second straight Wimbledon final.

"At the end of the day, he played better at the most important moments," Agassi said not long after he chose the worst of times, serving at 6-7 in the fifth set, to misplace his Zen-like maturity of recent years.

Though he credited Rafter, Agassi tainted the act of congratulating the winner by smacking a ball across the net at a lineswoman who had reported to the umpire an obscenity Agassi had addressed to himself after missing a backhand at 6-all in the fifth. By then, Agassi was clearly prowling for a scapegoat, having already missed by 10 feet a first serve that happened to go in the direction of a linesman he believed had missed two calls that cost him the fourth set.

The serve, his fastest of the day at 122 miles an hour, was deliberately missed on set point against him, which spoke to the level of Agassi's distraction and ensuing self-destruction. 

Instead of playing tomorrow for his second Wimbledon title, he headed back to the States to hear about how badly he'd behaved, too much like the Andre Boy of old.

"He was a bit hacked off," Rafter said, while adding that Wendy Smith, the lineswoman who reported Agassi's obscenity, might have looked the other way.

Objective observers also knew this wasn't the real point or the turning point. Agassi, despite two close line calls against him during the fourth set, began the fifth with a service break. "He was cruising," Rafter said, until he got heated up over his inability to nail down a second service break and boiled over after failing to serve out the match at 5-4. 

Goodbye Ugly American, and hello to a brand new Wimbledon champ. Rafter will play England's own Tim Henman or the wild card Goran Ivanisevic, whose match was suspended by rain last night with Henman a set away from a chance to end 65 years of British male home-court futility.

It will be a heartwarming story, no matter who shows up to play Rafter tomorrow, a career-defining day for another young citizen of the world who recognizes Center Court as the hub of the tennis universe. 

Win or lose, Rafter is going home to Australia to take six months off and decide if he wants to continue, at 28, punishing his body and making those 15-hour commutes. But first would come a night of dreaming of a meeting with Henman at the precise time Australia and England are engaged in battle on the fields of rugby and cricket.

"I'll take any Grand Slam, anything, you know," said the good-natured Aussie. Soon Rafter, a two- time winner of the United States Open, was admitting, "I think Wimbledon has always been traditionally the most exciting for us to win."

He might have been talking about Australians in particular or tennis players in general. Excluding, of course, those clay-court wimps who cower on the grass, if they show up at all.

That was the beauty of another Agassi run here, his breathtaking ability to raise his level of fitness and baseline shot-making to the point where he could intimidate the world's premier serve-and-volley players in their natural habitat. Rafter had 30 aces yesterday to Agassi's 6. Rafter also struck more winners, 74-63, yet there was Agassi, leading by 2-0 in the fifth set and at double break point.

"I knew if I lost that game, the match was over," Rafter said. At 15- 40, Agassi drilled a forehand right at his opponent's ribs from the middle of the court. Rafter, partly in self-defense, hit a reflex volley winner, and even Agassi agreed that was the play of the day.

At that point Rafter still looked washed out in his Wimbledon whites. He has been plagued by shoulder ailments for years. He is not one of the speedball servers, and you sometimes think his back is going to snap like a branch as he contorts to produce his second-service kick.

"Just give it a go," Rafter said of his attitude and game plan when it looked as if Agassi was likely to close him out. "When you walk off, you hold your head high." Too bad for Agassi, after how far he'd come and all he's achieved, that he went out with people again calling him a head case.


Rafter Moves on to Wimbledon Finals (Wimbledon, England) 
By Rachel Alexander Nichols, Associated Press, 7/6/2001 20:39 
WIMBLEDON, England Patrick Rafter stood at Wimbledon Friday afternoon with the sickening, helpless feeling of a man fighting the rising tide. After holding off Andre Agassi for as long as he could, he had been broken early in the fifth set, and now groundstroke by groundstroke, game by game, Agassi was nibbling away his chances to poke back into this semifinal match. 

Finally, Rafter stood on a liferaft of just two points. Agassi tossed his service ball into the air, ready to hack them away as well. But after spending the early part of the match suffocating the gritty Australian, Agassi let his concentration slip. He hit first a forehand into the net, then a backhand wide. One savvy volley from Rafter, and the break was erased. 

Suddenly, Rafter was back on solid ground, and Agassi was the one drowning. Unbalanced by his missed opportunity, Agassi staggered unevenly through the next few games before allowing himself to be unraveled entirely by a lineswoman who reported him to the chair umpire for swearing. The violation earned an obscenity warning, and within minutes, Agassi was shaking Rafter's hand to seal a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 loss, stopping on his way to the net to peg a ball in the direction of the offending official. 

''I'm sure he was very upset he had his chances,'' Rafter said afterward, still looking a bit unsure of how he managed to escape. ''I thought it was a little unfair of the lady to report him, but I guess she took the rules a bit seriously.'' 

Rafter will move on to his second consecutive final here, uncertain of his opponent after the day's other semifinal was flooded by rain. Britain's Tim Henman had been leading Goran Ivanisevic, 5-7, 7-6, 6-0, with the match, now scheduled to resume Saturday, on serve in the fourth. 

Agassi will head back across the Atlantic for the American hard-court season, although as he chews his way through his favorite part of the tennis calendar, it will be hard not to reflect on the days and dates that have already passed by undigested. After winning the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, Agassi appeared in good form to take the title at Roland Garros last month before being upset in a bizarre quarterfinal match where his play seemed to shift with the courtside movements of visiting former president Bill Clinton. 

Upon arrival here, the second-seeded Agassi once again appeared dominant, and he became the clear favorite after seven-time champion Pete Sampras was ousted in the fourth round earlier this week. But against Rafter, Agassi let the fourth set slip away in frustration over what he felt were bad line calls, even going so far as to waste a first serve on a Rafter set point, rocketing it in the direction of a lineswoman who had disappointed him. 

The ball did not hit the official; Agassi's post-match swipe toward the lineswoman who had upset him toward the end of play also missed her by inches after she hopped out of the way. Later, Agassi said he thought the lineswoman's action was ''unfair, big time.'' 

''I blame her husband for that,'' he said of the woman's reaction to his obscenity. 

Tournament referee Alan Mills did not respond to that particular innuendo, although he did fine Agassi $2,000 for his on-court outburst. The lineswoman was the only member of the officiating crew to hear the remark, but as soon as she did, she halted play for a moment, jogging over to report it to the umpire, who promptly warned Agassi. As for Agassi's decision to later use her for target practice, Mills said: ''I think he just lost it. (His shot) went near a certain lady. He didn't hit her she was athletic.'' 

The lineswoman's call provided the final blow to Agassi's already rickety concentration, although by that point, he had already missed several opportunities to submerge Rafter. It was a marked switch from the sharp, steady way he burst into the match, although by the fourth set he was already starting to waver, tripping over several line calls and at one point asking chair umpire Mike Morrissey to ''get rid of'' a linesman he didn't like. Rafter took advantage of Agassi's lulls with some daring serve-and-volley play, but in the beginning of the fifth set, he stumbled as well, double-faulting twice on his way to handing Agassi a key break. 

From then on, Agassi held the advantage. He almost broke Rafter a second time, holding four opportunities, and while he couldn't convert any of them, Rafter was clearly rattled, saying later that ''if I had lost that game, the match was over, as simple as that.'' Even with the getaway, Rafter showed little ability to hack into Agassi's own serve, and as the games piled up on the scoreboard, it appeared Rafter's time on Centre Court was running out. 

Agassi looked sure of himself as he stepped to the baseline at 5-4, ready to serve out the match. He looked just as certain at 30-15. But after dumping one forehand into the net and swinging a backhand far wide, Agassi suddenly appeared lost on the wide green grass, and Rafter earned the break on a crafty volley. 

Suddenly, everything changed. Unnerved, Agassi mixed aggression with discontent, unevenly alternating questionable errors with staggering service returns. He put together one more break point at 6-6, but when Rafter erased it, he swore out loud, drawing the lineswoman's attention. 

He then lost five of the next seven points, handing Rafter the match and the chance at the title. 


Rafter in Final After Five-Set Classic
Ronald Atkin 

Pat Rafter reached his second successive Wimbledon Final by sensationally winning a marathon five-setter against Andre Agassi that lasted two hours and 59 minutes, 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6.

It was the third consecutive year that these two had met in the Wimbledon Semi-Finals. Agassi won in 1999 and Rafter was victorious last year. Both went on to lose to Pete Sampras in the Finals.

Agassi had dominated the 28-year-old Rafter this year, defeating him in the Semi-Finals at the Australian Open, which ended up as Agassi's seventh Grand Slam triumph, and at the Masters Series tournament in Miami. But today provided spectacular revenge for Rafter. Agassi served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set, only for Rafter to win five of the last six games for a victory that he called "very lucky".

Agassi's start to this match could not have been more impressive. Hitting to an exact length and frustrating the net-charging Rafter by repeatedly lobbing him, the American broke serve in the third game and again in the fifth to go 4-1 up with only 14 minutes played. When he held serve to love, delivering his first ace in the process, Agassi went one set up in 24 minutes.

If the Australian was not to let the match get away from him, he needed to mount a successful counter-attack, and he proceeded to do exactly that. Rafter's serve was tightened up to such an extent that in the second set he conceded only eight points on it. 

A break of the Agassi serve in the second game got Rafter away to a heartening start and he held for a 3-0 lead after surviving a couple of break points by hammering three aces in one game. Though Agassi did not concede his serve again in the second set, that early margin was enough to see Rafter level the match by capturing the second set in 31 minutes.

The first five games of the third set went comfortably with serve but when Rafter donned a white cap at the change of ends he was immediately broken, going break point down on his sixth double-fault and then seeing a backhand half-volley drift into the tramlines. With the match just over an hour and a half old, Agassi conjured up two set points. He needed only one, going two sets to one ahead once more with a service winner.

The fourth set in this exciting see-saw match was virtually decided by an acrimonious break of serve. Two of the points that went against Agassi in the sixth game were, in his opinion, called in when they were out. Certainly, TV replays showed that the second ball seemed out. At any rate, the break put Rafter 4-2 up and so unsettled Agassi that he dropped serve again, permitting Rafter to draw level for the second time after two hours' play.

However, Agassi did not allow himself to remain unsettled, as he proved by breaking Rafter in the opening game of the final set when the Australian's attempt at a drop shot was underhit. Agassi should have gone 3-0 up but Rafter escaped by saving four break points in his next service game. He saved another at 1-3 and it paid spectacular dividends when, with Agassi serving for the match at 5-4, Rafter spectacularly broke the American with a punched forehand volley.

Agassi now looked the likelier to crack and, after receiving a warning from umpire Mike Morrissey for an audible obscenity, three consecutive backhand errors left him facing three match points at 6-7. He managed to save two but could do nothing about the third, a mishit backhand from Rafter that looped over Agassi and dropped in.

Line Judge Helped Me Win, Says Rafter
Mike Donovan 

Pat Rafter beat Andre Agassi to reach the Wimbledon Final today with the help of a line judge.

Agassi received a code violation for an audible obscenity after a complaint from line judge Wendy Smith to umpire Mike Morrissey as the third seed from Australia took a 7-6 lead in the fifth and final set.

Agassi had let slip a two sets to one lead but had got back on track and went a break up in the fifth. But after losing the advantage, he went on to upset the official and threw himself off course.

That is the opinion of 28-year-old Rafter who repeated his Semi-Final victory over the same opponent of 12 months ago. "The lady was a bit of an influence on the match because Andre got hacked off and played a loose final game," he said. "It was the turning point.

"After about the second or third point I thought 'he's a bit upset here'. I think things just went very quickly for Andre in that game. He was rattled.

"He had been upset with some calls that didn't go his way in the fourth set but was okay in the fifth but the lady really got to him in the end and he pretty well snapped."

Agassi lightly hit a ball after the finish close to the line judge who did a side-step. "He was shaping up to hit a ball in that direction after the match," Rafter said. "I'm sure he was very upset. He had his chances. I thought it was a little unfair of that lady to report him. I guess she took the rules a bit seriously. I thought 'let it go'. Only one person heard it. It was not that big a deal."

Rafter, who was playing Agassi in the Semi-Finals for a third successive time, kept his cool about his achievement. "It still hasn't sunk in yet," he said. "I don't even know if it was a good game. I don't want to get carried away by the whole situation.

"I still have one more match to go. I feel relieved and excited at the same time. I just hung on and and got very lucky."

Agassi, the No. 2 seed from the United States, admitted he felt aggrieved by the warning. When asked if he believed it was unfair, he said: "Yeh, big time. Big time. It was very upsetting. I thought was a bit classless for Centre Court."

But when asked if he aimed the ball at the line judge at the end, he said: "No, I meant to hit that in the net."

In the final game of the fourth set, following line disputes, an attempted serve almost hit another line judge. "I was trying to hit the line and it just got a little bit away from me," Agassi said.

But he believed Rafter deserved the victory. "For me the match sucked," Agassi said. "But he just kept coming up with the goods at the right time." 

Rafter reaches final against Ivanisevic or Henman
By HOWARD ULMAN
.c The Associated Press

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) - Two points from defeat, Patrick Rafter came back to 
shock Andre Agassi in five sets Friday and reach his second consecutive 
Wimbledon final. 

Rafter beat Agassi 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 8-6 in their third straight semifinal 
meeting at Wimbledon. And this time, Rafter won't even have to face 
seven-time champion Pete Sampras for the championship Sunday. 

Instead, the Australian will play three-time runner-up Goran Ivanisevic or 
crowd favorite Tim Henman of Britain. 

In the women's final Saturday, defending champion Venus Williams plays 
19-year-old Belgian Justine Henin, who ended Jennifer Capriati's bid to win 
the Grand Slam this year. 

Agassi was headed for a chance to add to his 1992 Wimbledon title, leading 
5-3 in the fifth set. Serving for the match at 5-4, Agassi went up 30-15 - 
putting him two points away from winning the semifinal. 

But the American hit a forehand into the net, then sent a backhand wide and 
lost the game when he couldn't get Rafter's crosscourt volley. 

Suddenly, the match was even at 5-5 and Rafter had the momentum. After Rafter 
moved ahead 7-6 - there are no fifth-set tiebreakers at this grass-court 
event - Agassi served what turned out to be his last game at Wimbledon this 
year. 

He fell behind 0-40 before staying alive with a crosscourt forehand with 
Rafter too far in. But that was Agassi's final point. 

Rafter won when he lofted a backhand from his left corner over Agassi's head 
that dropped into the far corner. 

``It was floating high. It was not very pretty,'' Rafter said. ``I said, 
'Just get in the court, please.' It was a total surprise when it did.'' 

Agassi was stunned. 

``Right now nothing comes to mind except kicking myself,'' he said. 

When the match was over, Agassi - who argued two calls during play - smacked 
a ball in the direction of a lineswoman who had reported him for an 
obscenity. 

``I meant to hit the ball into the net,'' Agassi said after belting the ball 
as he and Rafter went to the net to shake hands. 

It was a familiar greeting - they have met in the semifinals here for three 
straight years. 

Rafter's victory guarantees that the tournament will have a first-time 
champion for the first time since Richard Krajicek in 1996. Sampras had won 
every Wimbledon since then, but lost in the fourth round to Roger Federer 
this year. 

The semifinal was a contrast in styles - Agassi's patient and effective 
baseline game against Rafter's aggressive serve-and-volley strategy. 

On the last point of the 13th game of the fifth set, making it 7-6 for 
Rafter, Agassi hit a forehand wide and unleashed his obscenity. That's when 
the lineswoman reported him, resulting in a code violation. On the next 
point, Rafter won the game with a service winner. 

Now it was Agassi who had to come through just 15 minutes after he had Rafter 
on the ropes. But Agassi failed and, as the winning point dropped softly, 
Rafter smiled in triumph and relief. 

``I was just very, very fortunate to get through,'' Rafter said. ``Nothing 
really went his way today - even the line judge giving him the code 
violation. Probably a couple of line calls didn't go his way either. You 
know, I just feel sort of sad for him but I have to enjoy the moment as 
well.'' 

Last year, Rafter beat Agassi in the semis in five sets, then lost to Sampras 
in four sets. 

In 1999, Agassi beat Rafter in straight sets, then was beaten in straight 
sets by Sampras. 

On Friday, Agassi dealt with a bright sun that required a mid-match 
application of sunscreen to his bald head. He also was frustrated by two 
calls in the second set. 

During a changeover, Agassi complained to umpire Mike Morrissey. 

``You got plenty of people - get rid of him,'' Agassi said. ``How many does 
he have to miss before you get him off, two more?'' 

He seemed most upset about a call for Rafter in the sixth game. Rafter's 
backhand shot appeared to land just wide to the left but it was called in. 
Agassi smiled, dropped his racket and went on to lose the game. 

He also lost his serve in the eighth game, forcing a fifth set. That's when 
the poise he had shown most of the match - and the effective if not 
overpowering serve - returned, at least for a while. 

``That gave him the break and, ultimately, the fourth set,'' Agassi said. 
``You can't let that get the best of you.'' 

In the end, Rafter took care of that. 

``Very lucky,'' he said. ``It hasn't sunk in yet.'' 

AP-NY-07-06-01 1218EDT


Wimbledon-Rafter in final after Agassi thriller
By Ossian Shine

LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - Australian Pat Rafter reached his second 
successive Wimbledon final when he beat Andre Agassi 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 in 
one of the great Centre Court thrillers on Friday. 

The third seed, beaten last year by Pete Sampras and playing almost certainly 
his last Wimbledon, meets either sixth seed Tim Henman of Britain or Croatian 
wildcard Goran Ivanisevic in Sunday's final. 

In a match of outstanding tennis and unremitting tension, Rafter was two 
points away from defeat at 5-4 in the final set, with Agassi serving. 

But he won the next seven points to break back and claimed three match points 
on Agassi's serve as errors finally crept into the American second seed's 
game after almost three hours of tense battle. 

Agassi saved two with a whipped forehand pass and then a service winner but 
twice U.S. Open champion Rafter won a place in the final with an angled 
backhand pass as Centre Court rose to acclaim both exhausted men. 

"Andre had a couple of opportunities early in the fifth set to put me away 
but he didn't so I feel very, very fortunate," Rafter said after his third 
Wimbledon semifinal against Agassi in three years. 

TENSE SITUATION 
"Nothing went his way today - he had some dodgy line calls and got a code 
violation in a really tense situation." 

Agassi said he had been frustrated by the calling. 

"Listen, we can always say there's bad calls," the 31-year-old said. "I mean, 
there was a just a ball at 30-all in the fourth set that floated and sat 
clearly wide in my opinion. 

"That gave him the break and ultimately the fourth set but, you know... you 
can't let that get the best of you." 

It clearly did upset the American, though. Incensed, he said to the umpire 
"get rid of him (the judge). You want me to find another one for you?." 

Agassi was rattled and later appeared to aim a bullet first serve at the line 
judge which didn't bounce inside the court. 

Agassi dominated long stretches of Friday's match from the baseline but 
Rafter's agility and volleying kept him in touch. 

THUMPING BACKHAND 
Agassi, the game's best counter-puncher, and Rafter, a classic serve-vollyer, 
know each other's game as well as their own and the quality of tennis reached 
the heights of their classic five-setter in 2000, considered the match of 
that tournament and won by Rafter. 

Agassi, the oldest semifinalist since John McEnroe in 1992, dazed Rafter with 
the quality of his returns of serve in the first set, going 4-1 up in just 15 
minutes and winning the set with a thumping backhand as Rafter continued to 
charge the net. 

The Australian 28-year-old rediscovered rhythm on his serve in the second 
set, began volleying with more confidence, and started taking the pace off 
the ball, forcing Agassi to generate his own power. 

Rafter pounced on the American's serve in the second game, forcing a series 
of errors, and made the vital break when Agassi put a forehand wide. 

He produced his 10th ace for set point in the ninth game, followed by another 
big serve that Agassi, the 1992 champion, could only return into the net. 

The second set saw tennis of a quality rarely seen in these championships and 
if anything the standard rose further in the third. 

Rallies included almost every variety of shot as games went with serve until 
the sixth. It was Rafter, last year's losing finalist, who weakened first. 

He sent an easy volley into the net, saved a break point, double-faulted to 
allow the American another then put a forehand volley wide to hand Agassi the 
all-important break for 4-2. 

FINE DELIVERY 
Agassi, showing the greater consistency, was able to hang on to his own serve 
and took the set with a fine delivery that Rafter could only return tamely 
into the net. 

Controversy entered the high-octane contest in the fourth set when Rafter 
broke Agassi's service in the sixth game after the two close line calls by 
the same line judge at the American's end. 

One of these calls, when a backhand by Rafter deep to the corner was given 
in, presented the Australian with a vital break and he squared the match. 

But the Las Vegan came out fighting in the deciding set and broke Rafter in 
the first game with two sensational returns. 

Rafter saved four break points in his next service game but Agassi seemed set 
for a tilt at his eighth Grand Slam title. 

But with Agassi serving for the match at 5-4 Rafter pulled back to 30-30, 
charged the net for break point and converted with a forehand volley before 
saluting the crowd with clenched fist. 

Agassi held under pressure to level the set at 6-6 and he then came back from 
40-0 down to earn a break point which Rafter saved with an acute and clever 
drop volley. 

Agassi was warned for swearing after Rafter earned game point with a shot 
close to the baseline, and the third seed came through to take the game. 

As the crowd roared themselves hoarse, the Australian earned three match 
points as Agassi made two consecutive errors on his backhand and one on his 
forehand. 

Agassi saved two, but Rafter converted the third with a high backhand pass to 
take the set 8-6 and the match. 

12:27 07-06-01


Friday, July 6, 2001 
Rafter in Final After Five-Set Classic
Ronald Atkin 

Pat Rafter reached his second successive Wimbledon Final by sensationally 
winning a marathon five-setter against Andre Agassi that lasted two hours and 
59 minutes, 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6.

It was the third consecutive year that these two had met in the Wimbledon 
Semi-Finals. Agassi won in 1999 and Rafter was victorious last year. Both 
went on to lose to Pete Sampras in the Finals.

Agassi had dominated the 28-year-old Rafter this year, defeating him in the 
Semi-Finals at the Australian Open, which ended up as Agassi's seventh Grand 
Slam triumph, and at the Masters Series tournament in Miami. But today 
provided spectacular revenge for Rafter. Agassi served for the match at 5-4 
in the fifth set, only for Rafter to win five of the last six games for a 
victory that he called "very lucky".

Agassi's start to this match could not have been more impressive. Hitting to 
an exact length and frustrating the net-charging Rafter by repeatedly lobbing 
him, the American broke serve in the third game and again in the fifth to go 
4-1 up with only 14 minutes played. When he held serve to love, delivering 
his first ace in the process, Agassi went one set up in 24 minutes.

If the Australian was not to let the match get away from him, he needed to 
mount a successful counter-attack, and he proceeded to do exactly that. 
Rafter's serve was tightened up to such an extent that in the second set he 
conceded only eight points on it. 

A break of the Agassi serve in the second game got Rafter away to a 
heartening start and he held for a 3-0 lead after surviving a couple of break 
points by hammering three aces in one game. Though Agassi did not concede his 
serve again in the second set, that early margin was enough to see Rafter 
level the match by capturing the second set in 31 minutes.

The first five games of the third set went comfortably with serve but when 
Rafter donned a white cap at the change of ends he was immediately broken, 
going break point down on his sixth double-fault and then seeing a backhand 
half-volley drift into the tramlines. With the match just over an hour and a 
half old, Agassi conjured up two set points. He needed only one, going two 
sets to one ahead once more with a service winner.

The fourth set in this exciting see-saw match was virtually decided by an 
acrimonious break of serve. Two of the points that went against Agassi in the 
sixth game were, in his opinion, called in when they were out. Certainly, TV 
replays showed that the second ball seemed out. At any rate, the break put 
Rafter 4-2 up and so unsettled Agassi that he dropped serve again, permitting 
Rafter to draw level for the second time after two hours' play.

However, Agassi did not allow himself to remain unsettled, as he proved by 
breaking Rafter in the opening game of the final set when the Australian's 
attempt at a drop shot was underhit. Agassi should have gone 3-0 up but 
Rafter escaped by saving four break points in his next service game. He saved 
another at 1-3 and it paid spectacular dividends when, with Agassi serving 
for the match at 5-4, Rafter spectacularly broke the American with a punched 
forehand volley.

Agassi now looked the likelier to crack and, after receiving a warning from 
umpire Mike Morrissey for an audible obscenity, three consecutive backhand 
errors left him facing three match points at 6-7. He managed to save two but 
could do nothing about the third, a mishit backhand from Rafter that looped 
over Agassi and dropped in.

END--http://www.wimbledon.com/news/articles/

Rafter Ousts Agassi in Thriller; Rain Halts Henman

By Ossian Shine
WIMBLEDON (Reuters) - Australian Pat Rafter reached his second successive Wimbledon final when he beat Andre Agassi 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 in one of the great Centre Court thrillers on Friday.

The third seed, beaten last year by Pete Sampras and playing almost certainly his last Wimbledon, will meet sixth seed Tim Henman or Croatian wildcard Goran Ivanisevic in Sunday's final.

That semifinal was halted early in the fourth set because of bad light with Henman, bidding to become the first Briton to reach the men's final since 1938, two sets to one ahead.


In a match of outstanding tennis and unremitting tension, Rafter was two points away from defeat at 5-4 in the final set, with Agassi serving.

But he won the next seven points to break back and claimed three match points on Agassi's serve as errors finally crept into the American second seed's game after almost three hours of tense battle.

Agassi saved two with a whipped forehand pass and then a service winner but Rafter won with an angled backhand pass as Centre Court rose to acclaim both exhausted men.

"Andre had a couple of opportunities early in the fifth set to put me away but he didn't so I feel very, very fortunate," Rafter said after his third Wimbledon semifinal against Agassi in three years.

TENSE SITUATION

"Nothing went his way today -- he had some dodgy line calls and got a code violation in a really tense situation."

Agassi, who won the Australian Open earlier this year, said he had been frustrated by the calling.

"Listen, we can always say there's bad calls," the 31-year-old said. "I mean, there was a just a ball at 30-all in the fourth set that floated and sat clearly wide in my opinion.

"That gave him the break and ultimately the fourth set but, you know... you can't let that get the best of you."

It clearly did upset the American, though. Incensed, he said to the umpire "get rid of him (the judge). You want me to find another one for you?."

Agassi was rattled and later appeared to aim a bullet first serve at the line judge which didn't bounce inside the court.

Agassi dominated long stretches of Friday's match from the baseline but Rafter's agility and volleying kept him in touch.

THUMPING BACKHAND

Agassi, the game's best counter-puncher, and Rafter, a classic serve-vollyer, know each other's game as well as their own and the quality of tennis reached the heights of their classic five-setter in 2000, considered the match of that tournament and won by Rafter.

Agassi, the oldest semifinalist since John McEnroe in 1992, dazed Rafter with the quality of his returns of serve in the first set, going 4-1 up in just 15 minutes and winning the set with a thumping backhand as Rafter continued to charge the net.

The Australian 28-year-old rediscovered rhythm on his serve in the second set, began volleying with more confidence, and started taking the pace off the ball, forcing Agassi to generate his own power.

Rafter, twice U.S. Open champion, pounced on the American's serve in the second game, forcing a series of errors, and made the vital break when Agassi put a forehand wide.

He produced his 10th ace for set point in the ninth game, followed by another big serve that Agassi, the 1992 champion, could only return into the net.

It was Rafter, last year's losing finalist, who weakened first in the third set. He sent an easy volley into the net, saved a break point, double-faulted to allow the American another then put a forehand volley wide to hand Agassi the all-important break for 4-2.

FINE DELIVERY

Controversy entered the high-octane contest in the fourth set when Rafter broke Agassi's service in the sixth game after the two calls by the same line judge at the American's end.

One of these calls, when a backhand by Rafter deep to the corner was given in, presented the Australian with a vital break and he squared the match.

But the Las Vegan came out fighting in the deciding set and broke Rafter in the first game with two sensational returns.

Rafter saved four break points in his next service game but Agassi seemed set for a tilt at his eighth Grand Slam title.

But with Agassi serving for the match at 5-4 Rafter pulled back to 30-30, charged the net for break point and converted with a forehand volley before saluting the crowd with clenched fist.

Agassi held under pressure to level the set at 6-6 and he then came back from 40-0 down to earn a break point which Rafter saved with an acute and clever drop volley.

HENMAN CHARGE

Ivanisevic relied on his heavy serve to tame Henman and the feverish Centre Court crowd in the first set but the Englishman, beaten in his previous two semifinals by Pete Sampras, won the second set tiebreak 8-6 on his second set point.

The third set took just 14-1/2 minutes as the famed Ivanisevic serve broke down and Henman's game, full of sweet volley and exact lobs, hit a high.

Henman collided heavily with the umpire's chair early in the fourth set but he recovered and was well-set against the tiring 29-year-old when rain began falling.

After more than two hours delay, play was called off.

The last Briton to reach the final was Henry "Bunny" Austin in 1938. The last home player to win the world's most prestigious tournament was Fred Perry who completed a trio of titles in 1936.

Ivanisevic, who lost three finals in the 1990s, is the first wildcard to reach the Wimbledon last four.

Heroic Rafter revival

From our wire services

07 July 01

News Interactive

LONDON: Pat Rafter kept his hopes of a coveted Wimbledon title alive with an heroic comeback to beat Andre Agassi 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 in a desperate semi-final here overnight.

But he will have to wait until tonight to discover his final opponent. Rain caused the other semi to be abandoned with Britain's Tim Henman leading Goran Ivanisevic 5-7 7-6 6-0 2-1 and the Croatian 40-30 up on serve when the downpour came.

"I guess I feel like I'm more of a contender now," said Rafter, pursuing a title in what will probably be his last Wimbledon before retirement.

"With Pete (Sampras), you might be 40-60. Now you're definitely a 50-50 opportunity. That's always a nice feeling going into a final.

"It still hasn't really sunk in yet. I don't want to get too carried away with the whole situation. I still have one more match to go."

Rafter said he will prepare for the final by relaxing today, but will make a point to be out of bed early to watch his beloved Wallabies take on the British Lions in the second Test in Melbourne.

Rafter, seeking to go one better than last year's runner's-up finish, twice fought back to win.

The Queenslander had looked finished when Agassi served for the match, with seemingly all the momentum at 5-4 in the fifth set.

But at 30-30 Rafter forced an error from Agassi to set up a priceless break point, and he rallied well to convert it with a forehand volley to make it 5-5.

Rafter dodged another break point at 6-6, with a courageous half-volley, then racked up three match points against Agassi's serve at 7-6, converting the third with a backhand cross court winner from the baseline.

It was the third straight year Rafter and Agassi had met in a Wimbledon semi-final, with Rafter last year atoning for a straight sets loss in 1999 by overcoming Agassi in an epic five sets.

A repeat of that seemed a forlorn chance in the first set, when Agassi, who had won nine of their 13 meetings, began in blistering form with two breaks of serve to wrap up the set in just 24 minutes.

Third seed Rafter began the second set strongly enough, holding serve to love, but the real turning point came when he was receiving in the following game and missed an easy overhead backhand which would have given him three break points.

It seemed to snap Rafter into gear. He forced an error from the second seed Agassi on the next point, and went on to break him for a 2-0 lead.

Fighting off a break-back point in the next game, with one of an increasing number of aces, Rafter streaked out to a 4-1 lead when he held to 30 in game five, in which he got another chance at an overhead backhand. This time he nailed it, and he went on to serve out strongly for the set.

Rafter continued to frustrate Agassi in the third set, with the placement from the net to thwart the Las Vegan's groundstrokes.

But the Queenslander served poorly in the sixth game, with the second of two double faults giving Agassi a break point which was converted with yet another sizzling return for a 4-2 lead which ensured the set.

Still, Rafter showed he would not lie down in the fourth set, winning his first two service games to love, then seizing the first break for a 4-2 lead in controversial circumstances.

Agassi disagreed with two line calls in favour of Rafter, the second of which set up break point.

Incensed, Agassi sprayed a backhand wide, and later demanded the linesman involved be changed, telling umpire Mike Morrissey: "They were bulls--t calls."

Agassi's ill temper carried on in his next service game when he conceded another break, and the set, with another lazy and wide backhand.

But the momentum Rafter had was immediately diluted when he was broken by the 1992 champion at the start of the fifth set.

Agassi set up break point with yet another wicked return, and Rafter surrendered with a poor backhand drop volley into the net when Agassi had slipped to his knees.

Rafter was in desperate trouble when down another four break points in his next service game, but saved them with a superb reflex volley, an ace, and two service winners.

He battled on gamely but the match still looked Agassi's when he served at 5-4, but the pressure applied by Rafter reaped its rewards.

Play it again, Pat

By LEO SCHLINK

06 July 01

Daily Telegraph

PAT RAFTER overnight delved into his Wimbledon memory bank, seeking positive reinforcement as he attempts to rediscover the flawless form he needs to overcome Andre Agassi in a so-called "no secrets" All-England Club semi-final tonight.

Shaping up to Agassi for the 14th time since 1993, Rafter spent a quiet day in the Wimbledon village watching a telecast of the first Ashes Test in Edgbaston after receiving a massage and practising with close friend Paul Kilderry.

But occupying his mind were the memories of last year's epic Wimbledon semi-final where he cunningly found a way to beat Agassi in five scintillating sets, a match subsequently hailed by John McEnroe as the best he'd ever seen.

While Rafter does not live in the past, nor ponders his 4-9 record against the Las Vegan, he understands that unless he reproduces the same level of form he will soon be packing his bags for Bermuda.

"I thought last year's match was pretty exceptional," Rafter said after destroying Thomas Eqnvist 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7-5) with a supreme display of serving.

"If I can play that well again, then I definitely have a chance. But I'm going to have to play that well to win.

"There's nothing more exciting than playing a guy like Andre at Wimbledon.

"I'm not getting ahead of myself. I'm still one of four guys (Agassi, Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic are the others) who have a chance to win here.

"Every time I go on the court, I feel I have a very good chance of winning against any opponent. I also realise that he (Agassi) has a good chance as well.

"If you want to get to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, you have to be playing well. It's always going to be a difficult match."

Rafter will also reflect on his brilliant showing at the Australian Open in January, when his mid-match dominance of Agassi ultimately gave way to severe cramping and the ignominy of winning just five games over the last two sets when he could barely walk after not ingesting enough electrolytes pre-match.

The former world No.1 has played Agassi once since, losing an Ericsson Open semi-final in three sets.

But there is no doubt in Agassi's mind victory over Rafter would effectively translate into almost certain title triumph with both Henman and Ivanisevic sure to enter the final as underdog.

"I've said many times about Pat, he's a great player, a great competitor," Agassi said after dismissing Frenchman Nicolas Escude.

"Win or lose, you really cherish the opportunity to raise your game at the right time. I'm certainly going to have to do that. He looked really sharp in some pretty tough conditions. There's no secret approach for either of us. We are both way too familiar with the other one's game.

" We are both way too concerned with what it is we each have to do well to win.

"He's going to have to serve well. I'm going to have to return well and serve well, as well.

"It's going to be a day like it always is. It's who's executing their game better.

"The fact that he plays the game so differently than I do means it should be a good spectacle."

As ever, Rafter's hopes hinge on his troublesome right arm. Still on anti-inflammatories to contain tendinitis in his wrist and elbow, Rafter has resolved to "just go hard".

Rafter-Agassi serve it up again

By RICHARD HINDS
WIMBLEDON
Friday 6 July 2001

For the third consecutive year, Pat Rafter will play Andre Agassi in a semi-final at Wimbledon. At stake is not only a place in the final of what has become one of the most remarkable and dramatic championships in recent memory but, for the Australian, perhaps one last chance to claim the game's greatest prize.
Regardless of the result of the match (tonight Melbourne time), Rafter maintains he will take a six-month break at the end of the year.
At 29, and with a right shoulder that aches from the exertion it takes to create his spitting serves, it is doubtful that he will return.
So, in some respects, his meeting with Agassi could be their Wimbledon decider.
In 1999, the American beat Rafter in straight sets. Last year, Rafter prevailed in a match rated among the best played on the famous centre court.
Both were subsequently beaten in the final by Pete Sampras.
"I guess it's starting to become a little bit of tradition here at Wimbledon," said Rafter of his semi-final rivalry with Agassi. "I know the English love their tradition."
The English would love nothing more than Tim Henman, who plays the rejuvenated wildcard Goran Ivanisevic in the other semi-final, to become the first local champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
But regardless of the result of that match, the winner of the Rafter-Agassi showdown will be the favorite to win the final.
Rafter's last grand slam match against Agassi was in the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open. That night, the perspirant Queenslander almost collapsed on the humid Melbourne Park court, triggering a scientific search for the cause of his centre-court meltdowns and the removal of his trademark long hair.
Although it has been warm here this year, Rafter has been untroubled on the relatively cool Wimbledon grass. A straight-sets quarter-final victory over Swede Thomas Enqvist that lasted less than two hours certainly did not drain him.
If Rafter is struggling to find the motivation to play the tour full-time, he is still inspired at this time of year. "If you can't get up for this tournament, you can't get up for anything," he says. "It's grass. It helps my game. It's over five sets, I like that. I don't know, it's just Wimbledon."
Agassi, the game's reformed wild child, is equally motivated. An unexpected Wimbledon champion in 1992, he is desperately trying to add to his collection of six grand slam trophies - partly inspired by the fact that his partner Steffi Graf won 22.
While aGASSI enjoys a 9-4 advantage after 13matches with Rafter, he maintains a respect for the Australian. "I've said many times about Pat, he's a great player, a great competitor," he said. "I've had some great matches with him. They're always ones to remember. Win or lose, you really cherish the opportunity to raise your level at the right time."
The laid-back Rafter planned to prepare for the match in typical style. A rub-down, some practice and then a seat in front of the television watching Australia play England in the first Ashes Test.

- - -

Semis made to order

By LINDA PEARCE
LONDON
Friday 6 July 2001

A couple of weeks ago, Pat Rafter was a slightly worried man. He had lost badly in the first round of the Dutch warm-up tournament he had won for the previous three years, and was left to pick up the cherished match practice once Wimbledon began.
It was a slightly risky strategy, but enforced, not planned.
Team Rafter was aware by then of a Wimbledon draw that could collide with Andre Agassi's in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year.
But, having been eliminated in the first round of the French Open in his first tournament in six weeks, and not having won a tour match since March anywhere except the post-French event in Halle, Germany, Rafter had to first rely on lasting long enough to play himself in.
That, happily, has been done. And so the time has come for today's annual appointment with Agassi on the world's most famous court.
"(There's) nothing more exciting than playing a guy like Andre at Wimbledon," Rafter said after his quarter-final defeat of Thomas Enqvist. "It would be better if it was the final, actually."
For everyone, that is, except the millions from the host nation hanging off every word from that nice Tim Henman, or the nut-lovers urging the wonderfully mad Goran Ivanisevic into a fourth final.
Indeed, the second semi should be at least as engaging. "An incredible weekend for the sport of tennis," said Agassi, who would almost be the least exciting champion.
The first semi should again be determined by Rafter's serve, and how Agassi handles it, for Rafter's coach Tony Roche sees little difference between his player's standard this year and last, and has approved of the way his tournament has built.
"But what's been the best in Pat's game has been his percentage of first serves, and the manner in which he's been hitting it," Roche said. "It's heavy and it's got a bit of stick on it, which makes him tough to beat."
Rafter would have preferred his service excellence lasted for the full three sets against Enqvist, but 18months ago, after shoulder surgery, it was uncertain how often, and how well, he would ever serve again.
That is one of the main differences between Rafter last year and this: then, no one expected a Wimbledon semi; 12months on, anything less would have been the surprise.
Physically, there should be no excuses this year: (a) Rafter is still treating his elbow inflammation, but it has apparently not been a factor; (b) he has dropped only two sets in five matches; (c) helping to balance the heat is the fact that grass is one of the least gruelling surfaces; and (d) Rafter beat Enqvist in one hour 54minutes.
"If that's going to knock me around, I'm in a lot of trouble," Rafter said.
Another difference is that this year there is no prospect of knocking over one of the great Americans, only to see another bob up in the final.
Pete Sampras' upstaging by Roger Federer brought more immediate joy to Henman, who has lost to Sampras three times here, and to Ivanisevic, who has conceded two Wimbledon finals to the seven-time champion.
Yet as much as they insist on that tiresome dull one-match-at-a-time talk, it cannot have escaped anyone's attention that the decline/departure of Sampras has left a gaping window of opportunity ready to be barged through.
"One of the greatest things about the way the sport of tennis is played is that the best player is still alive. That's not Pete this year," Agassi said. "While it's surprising, it's also something you have to kind of put behind you and deal with who's over there."
That's Rafter again, in what has become a Wimbledon tradition, and Rafter can draw plenty from the most recent grasscourt instalment - the five-setter last year that John McEnroe rates as the best semi he has seen here.
It is the only one of the past five contests that Rafter has won against Agassi, although cramps were partly to blame for his Australian Open downfall in January after leading by two sets to one.
"I've gradually been getting better and better with each match," Rafter said after his 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) elimination of Enqvist, which was not all that dissimilar to his 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) effort against Alexander Popp in last year's quarter-final.
"But I thought last year's match (against Agassi) was pretty exceptional ... If I can play that well, then I definitely have a chance. But I'm going to have to play that well to win."
To prepare, Rafter planned a "pretty standard day" of practice with regular hitting partner Paul Kilderry under Roche's supervision, some rest and a session in front of the TV to watch the first day of the Ashes series from Edgbaston.
Kilderry tries to impersonate Rafter's opponents, and the perky Western Australian certainly bears a greater physical resemblance to Agassi than to Enqvist. Still, for yesterday's trick, Rafter said, Kilderry would have "to work on his returns a little bit".
In that regard, no one does it better than Agassi, who did it hard for a time against Nicolas Escude on Wednesday, but did it in the end.
The 1992 champion quick-steps around the court with an almost perpetual frown, but could raise a smile later when asked to compare his own form with last year's. Feeling better, said Agassi. Stronger. Pleased to have made it through more comfortably. Effectively: look out.
"There's no secret approach out there for either of us," Agassi said of what will be his 14th meeting with Rafter. "We are both way too familiar with the other one's game, and way too concerned with what it is we each have to do in order to win.
"It's going to be a day like it always is: who's executing their game better. The fact that he plays the game so differently than I do really lends to a great, not only variety of tennis, but level."
The winner will be the favorite to win the tournament, as both players have winning records against Henman and Ivanisevic.
Agassi is the only baseliner among the last four, and the only former champion (in 1992), Ivanisevic has played in the most finals (three), Rafter has won most of the grasscourt titles (four), while Henman (aged 26) is the junior representative in what has become a glorious tournament for the over 25s.
And, as a certain balding Las Vegan noted, also an event made to order for tennis. Henman-Ivanisevic will excite; Rafter-Agassi could again inspire.
"They're always ones to remember," Agassi said of his own battle looming. "Win or lose, you cherish the opportunity to raise your level at the right time. I'm certainly going to have to do that. You've just got to play better as the tournament goes on. We're down to the last four. Everyone has a shot."

Agassi, Rafter meet again

Stars will battle in semis for third consecutive year

Posted: Wednesday July 04, 2001 10:09 AM
Updated: Thursday July 05, 2001 2:40 AM

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Like overnight queues, rain delays and bad bounces, a semifinal match between Andre Agassi and Patrick Rafter has become part of Wimbledon tradition.

The longtime friendly rivals notched solid victories in the quarterfinals Wednesday to set up their third annual showdown at the All England Club. And this time Pete Sampras won't be waiting for the winner in the final.

Agassi beat Rafter in 1999. Rafter beat Agassi in 2000. Each time the winner then lost to Sampras, but the seven-time champion is out of the chase this year after being upset by Roger Federer in the fourth round.

"The best player is still alive. That's not Pete this year," Agassi said. "While it's surprising, it's also something you have to kind of put behind you, and deal with who's there."

Agassi-Rafter III is part of an appealing final four. The other semifinal Friday will be between rejuvenated three-time runner-up Goran Ivanisevic and Oxford-born Tim Henman, trying to become the first Englishman since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon.

"That's an incredible weekend for the sport," Agassi said.

Rafter had the easiest time in the men's quarterfinals, beating Thomas Enqvist 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Agassi overcame a slow start to defeat Nicolas Escude 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

And Ivanisevic, 29, took another big step in an improbable career comeback to rival Capriati's. He hit volleys between his legs, blew kisses to the sky and eliminated U.S. Open champion Marat Safin 7-6 (2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3).

Emerging from an 18-month slump that dropped his ranking to 125th, Ivanisevic became the first wild card -- male or female -- to reach the Wimbledon semifinals since the system was introduced in 1977.

"Never happier in my life," said the mercurial Croat, the runner-up in 1992, 1994 and 1998. "I'm playing the best tennis ever I played at Wimbledon."

Henman, admitting he was "tight as a drum," nonetheless delighted a partisan Centre Court crowd and reached the semis for the third time by beating Federer 7-5, 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (6).

"The pressure's always there," Henman said. "The pressure comes from within, because I expect myself to do bigger and better things."

The men's semifinalists have a combined 140 match victories at Wimbledon but only one title -- Agassi's in 1992. That was the first of his seven Grand Slams championships and the most surprising, because his baseline game is not best suited for grass.

Now, nine years later, the second-seeded Agassi has another shot at tennis' most prestigious title. The only man to go so long between Wimbledon championships was Bill Tilden, who won in 1920, 1921 and 1930.

"I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but it seems like I've got a one-in-four shot," Agassi said.

First he'll have to get past the third-seeded Rafter. A year ago Agassi came up short in a five-set thriller, when he and Rafter both played at the top of their game.

"That was the best semifinal I've seen in maybe 20 years," three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe said.

The rivalry has become perhaps the best in men's tennis. Agassi leads it 9-4, including a victory in January on his way to the Australian Open title.

The matchups are always entertaining because of a contrast in styles, with Rafter charging the net and Agassi slugging from the baseline.

"He plays one way, and I couldn't play more opposite," Agassi said. "I've had some great matches with him. They're always ones to remember. Win or lose, you cherish the opportunity to raise your level at the right time. I'm certainly going to have to do that."

The rivalry may not last much longer. At 31, Agassi has never been more fit or hungry, but the 28-year-old Rafter talks of retirement and says he plans to take at least six months off after this year.

"Nothing more exciting than playing a guy like Andre at Wimbledon," Rafter said. "It would be better if it was the final, actually."

Agassi is trying to bounce back from a dismal showing last month at the French Open, where the presence of former President Clinton seemed to rattle him in a quarterfinal loss to Sebastien Grosjean of France.

When asked about the match, Agassi coyly claims not to remember it. But there was no repeat against Escude, another speedy, scrappy Frenchman.

Agassi lost a set for the first time during the fortnight, but Escude aggravated his sore left thigh and required treatment from a trainer midway through the second set. Agassi then slowly took control, repeatedly belting service returns that an onrushing Escude couldn't handle.

"It reveals where my mindset is if I do get in a tough match," Agassi said. "Somebody is going to have to beat me start to finish."

He knows somebody could be Rafter.

In sight of the glittering prize

One contest has become a regular event, the other promises to be highly irregular, writes Linda Pearce in London.

A couple of weeks ago, Pat Rafter was a slightly worried man. He had lost badly in the first round of the Dutch warm-up tournament he had won for the previous three years and was left without the match practice he needed for Wimbledon.

It was a risky situation, but enforced, not planned.

Team Rafter was aware by then of a Wimbledon draw that might see their man play Andre Agassi in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year. But, having been eliminated in the first round of the French Open in his first tournament in six weeks, and not having won a tour match since March anywhere except the important post-French event in Halle, Germany, Rafter had to first rely on lasting long enough to play himself in.

That, happily, has been done. And so the time has come for his annual appointment with Agassi on the world's most famous court. "There's nothing more exciting than playing a guy like Andre at Wimbledon," Rafter said after his 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7-5) defeat of Thomas Enqvist. "It would be better if it was the finals."

For everyone, that is, except the millions hanging off every shot from that nice Tim Henman, or the nut-lovers urging the wonderfully mad Goran Ivanisevic into his fourth final. Indeed, the second semi should be at least as engaging.

"An incredible weekend for the sport of tennis," said Agassi, who would almost be the least exciting champion.

The first semi should again be determined by Rafter's serve, and how Agassi handles it, for Rafter's coach Tony Roche sees little difference between his player's standard this year and last, and has approved of the way his tournament has built.

"But what's been the best in Pat's game has been his percentage of first serves and the manner in which he's been hitting it," Roche said. "It's heavy and it's got a bit of stick on it, which makes him tough to beat."

Eighteen months ago, after shoulder surgery, it was uncertain how often, and how well, Rafter would ever serve again. That is one of the main differences between the player last year and this. Then again, no-one expected a Wimbledon semi 12 months on, anything less would have been the surprise.

Physically, there should be no excuses this year. Rafter is still treating his elbow inflammation, but it has apparently not been a factor. He has dropped only two sets in five matches and he beat Enqvist in 1hr 54min.

"If that's going to knock me around, I'm in a lot of trouble," Rafter said. "I should be feeling pretty good."

Another difference is that this year there is no prospect of knocking over one of the great Americans, only to see another bob up in the final. Pete Sampras's upstaging by Roger Federer brought more immediate joy to Henman, who has lost to him three times here, and to Ivanisevic, who has conceded two Wimbledon finals to the seven-time champion. Yet as much as they insist on that tiresome, dull one-match-at-a-time talk, it can not have escaped anyone's attention that the departure of Sampras has left a gaping window of opportunity ready to be barged through.

"One of the greatest things about the way the sport of tennis is played is that the best player is still alive. That's not Pete this year," Agassi said. "While it's surprising, it's also something you have to kind of put behind you and deal with who's over there."

That's Rafter again and he can draw plenty from last year's match - a five-setter John McEnroe rates as the best semi he has seen at SW19. It is the only one of the past five contests with Agassi that Rafter has won, although cramps were partly to blame for his Australian Open downfall in January after leading two sets to one.

"I've gradually been getting better and better with each match," Rafter said after his elimination of Enqvist, which was not all that dissimilar to his 6-3 6-2 7-6 effort against Alexander Popp in last year's quarter-final. "But I thought last year's match [against Agassi] was pretty exceptional - where I came from, anyway. If I can play that well, then I definitely have a chance. But I'm going to have to play that well to win."

To prepare, Rafter planned a "pretty standard day" of practice with regular hitting partner Paul Kilderry under Roche's supervision, some rest, and a session in front of the TV to watch the first day of the Ashes series from Edgbaston. Kilderry tries to impersonate Rafter's opponents, and the perky West Australian certainly bears a greater physical resemblance to Agassi than Enqvist. Still, for semi practice, Rafter said Kilderry would have "to work on his returns a little bit".

In that regard, no-one does it better than Agassi, who did it hard for a time against Nicolas Escude on Wednesday but did it in the end. The 1992 champion quick-steps around the court with an almost perpetual frown but could raise a smile later when asked to compare his own form with last year's. Feeling better, said Agassi. Stronger. Pleased to have made it through more comfortably. Effectively: look out.

"There's no secret approach out there for either of us," Agassi said of what will be his 14th meeting with Rafter. "We are both way too familiar with the other one's game and way too concerned with what it is we each have to do in order to win. It's going to be a day like it always is: who's executing their game better. The fact that he plays the game so differently than I do really lends to a great - not only variety of tennis - but level."

The winner will be the favourite to win the tournament, as both players have winning records against Henman and Ivanisevic.

Agassi is the only baseliner among the last four and the only former champion (in 1992). Ivanisevic has played in the most finals (three), Rafter has won the majority of the grasscourt titles (four), while Henman (aged 26) is the junior representative in what has become a glorious tournament for the over 25s.

And, as a certain balding Las Vegan noted, also an event made to order for tennis. Henman-Ivanisevic will excite; Rafter-Agassi may again inspire.

"They're always ones to remember," Agassi said of his own battle looming. "Win or lose, you cherish the opportunity to raise your level at the right time. I'm certainly going to have to do that. You've just got to play better as the tournament goes on. We're down to the last four. Everyone has a shot."