Sport: Kafelnikov to play Agassi in Australian Open Final

Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov easily defeated Magnus Norman today to set up a meeting with World number 1 Andre Agassi in the final of the Australian Open. Second seed Kafelnikov broke Magnus Norman's service twice to romp through the opening set of their men's singles semi-final clash, winning 6-1 in just 22 minutes at Melbourne Park. The Russian broke Norman's serve in the second and fourth games to lead 4-0 before the Swedish 12th seed finally troubled the scoreboard at 5-1. Kafelnikov was not to be denied and reeled off an ace on his first set point to take the set.

Norman's nightmare continued in the second set as Kafelnikov broke his service twice again to take an iron grip of the match at 4-0, before the Swede held his serve for only the second time. Norman seemed powerless to halt Kafelnikov's march to a showdown against Agassi as the Russian served out for 6-2 to lead by two sets after only 50 minutes of play. The last set took 40 minutes but by that stage there was no stopping the Russian who won out 6-4.

Meanwhile, top seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs dashed Martina Hingis' hopes of a fourth successive women's doubles crown today. American Raymond and Stubbs of Australia beat third seeds Hingis and Mary Pierce of France 6-4 5-7 6-4. Swiss kid Hingis had won the doubles here for the past three years with Anna Kournikova last year, Mirjana Lucic in 1998 and Natasha Zvereva in 1997. The pairing of Raymond and Stubbs proved too strong in a thrilling finale. Hingis will be hoping for better fortune when she bids for her fourth Australian Open singles title in the final against Lindsay Davenport of the United States tomorrow.