[DUlrich1227]

Federer, Agassi Ready for Sunday Thriller at US Open

World No. 1 Roger Federer will face the unlikeliest of opponents in today's US Open final, the oldest man to reach the championship match in 31 years -- Andre Agassi.

Agassi, who entered the US Open with momentum from a stellar summer run but hampered by a sciatic nerve problem causing back pain and requiring cortisone shots, reached the final with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over fellow American Robby Ginepri.

Agassi was in the midst of a third consecutive US Open three-setter against Ginepri, but the younger American was one-upping Agassi with a US Open-record fourth consecutive three-setter -- and it showed in the fifth set when Agassi broke for a 4-2 lead, and Ginepri was dead-broke, giving up on a number of balls as Agassi cruised to victory.

"I feel pretty good now," Agassi said. "I mean, 24 hours is not a lot of time (to recover for the final). It's not an ideal situation, to play three five-setters going into the finals, especially this one. This is one of the reasons why this is the most difficult tournament to win. But it's a great problem to have. Listen, I'd sign up for that any day to have a chance in the finals."

Ginepri, the lowest-ranked US Open semifinalist in over 10 years, said his two-week effort was a confidence boost that will make him a factor in the future.

"I can hang with any player," Ginepri said. "I shouldn't be intimidated or afraid to walk on the court with anybody. It definitely enlightens the future for me."

Roger Federer advanced to the final with a 6-3, 7-6(0), 4-6, 6-3 win in three hours in a repeat of last year's final over Lleyton Hewitt.

Serving at 4-5 Federer fought off two game points, then again at 5-6 before drilling the Aussie 7-0 in the tiebreak. But after losing 17 sets in a row, Hewitt finally broke through to take the third set before it was business as usual in the fourth.

"He's a hell of a shot-maker, the best shot-maker I've ever seen," Hewitt said. "He can pull the trigger anywhere on the court. No one's really been able to put him under pressure for the last couple of years."

Federer has now won 34 in a row on hardcourts, an Open Era record, and puts his 22 straight wins (also a record) in finals on the line against Agassi.

"I expect a tough match," Federer said of playing Agassi. "He always makes the opponent run. I'm ready to run, defend myself and play aggressive when I have the chance."

Federer has won his last seven meetings with Agassi, but barely survived a five-setter last year with the former No. 1 in the US Open quarterfinals.

"Most people have weaknesses," Agassi said. "Federer doesn't have weaknesses. So that equates to a problem. I mean, I could lie, I could say something else, but he's earned that respect."

Clijsters Breaks Slam Jinx With US Open Title

With an 0-4 record in slam finals and a career-threatening wrist injury, reaching the No. 1 ranking was little consolation to Kim Clijsters, who feared her career could be over as she sat on the sidelines last year.

Clijsters returned to the tour in February of this year with a rehabilitated wrist, and Saturday at the US Open was the fruition of her comeback with a 6-3, 6-1 clubbing of an injury-hobbled Mary Pierce to break the slam duck.

After match point Clijsters made a perilous climb into the stands, walking on a rail and helped by fans, embracing her mother, sister and supporters in her player's box.

"It's very hard to believe and an amazing feeling to have," Clijsters said. "After being out for so much of last year it's a little bit more special."

For Pierce it was the thrill of a run to the US Open final, and the heartbreak of going 0-2 in slam finals in 2005 after also getting run over by Justine Henin-Hardenne in the French Open final.

"Kim, congratulations," Pierce said on-court after the final. "I'm so happy for you -- you're such a sweet girl, and you're a fantastic player. You were really too good today and you deserved to win. Congratulations."

Sunday at the US Open will feature the women's doubles final in the American/Aussie pairing of (6) Raymond/Stosur vs. the Russian/Italian tandem of (14) Dementieva/Pennetta.

NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
How good was Kim Clijsters, taking the mike to praise Mary Pierce and then her support team? That needs to happen more often, give the players the mike. And how good was the CBS send-off collage of players Saturday night? Nice stuff...Justine Henin-Hardenne pulled from the WTA Luxembourg event, and says it is doubtful with her hamstring injury if she will play during the remainder of 2005...No man has ever won four consecutive five-set matches at a Grand Slam tournament, though Goran Ivanisevic won four in a row at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics en route to the semifinals...Lleyton Hewitt has not entered any of the remaining tournaments of 2005 with the impending birth of his child, but could compete in a few tournaments before the year-ending Masters Cup...Andre Agassi in his post-match conference on the cortisone injections for his back: "The doctor is comfortable with four injections a year. Because we're not injecting tendon or joints, you know, this is a nerve that's through bone so there's not a lot of deterioration or downside that happens as a result of it. It's not a way to live as a way of life, but if I didn't thrash myself around on the tennis court with 22-year-olds...(laughter)...I wouldn't need it, period. I mean, I would be fine. I'm not sort of disabled in my everyday life, but it's when I demand what I demand out of my body that I fall shy of the standard that's needed to be at your best. So I can do about four a year, but not as a way of life, for a few years."

[naught33]

VAMOS AA!

[dananderson32]

why could the final not be hewitt vs. J BLOCK .....so i could see both the girls they bang some more on tv

[naught33]

because AA is the living legend, the icon, the showstopper!

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by dananderson32

why could the final not be hewitt vs. J BLOCK .....so i could see both the girls they bang some more on tv

LMAO