Pat Rafter, last year's beaten finalist at Wimbledon, breezed through to this year's semi-finals after a comprehensive 6-1 6-3 7-6 win over Sweden's Thomas Enqvist. The third seed took less than two hours to dispatch the 10th seed who never looked like reaching top form in this tie. Rafter played some superb tennis, mixing his power game with some delicate touches around the net to which Enqvist had no answer.
The Australian had the best possible start as he broke Enqvist twice in the opening set while his own service was near-perfect and he took the set 6-1. In the second set, Enqvist's performance improved greatly but he still lost on his serve to gift his opponent a 4-3 lead despite being 40-love up. Rafter easily won his next game and then broke serve yet again to take the set 6-3.
Unsurprisingly, Enqvist's head began to drop by this stage and he began the third set badly. Rafter had the opportunity to go 2-0 up with two break points in the Swede's first service game of the third set. However, the Swede suddenly came to life and rescued that game before stunning Rafter and the Court One crowds by breaking the Australian's serve.
It was the perfect chance for Enqvist to get back into this tie but Rafter battled his way back to level the set at 4-4 and then forced it to a tie-break. With a straight sets defeat looming largely, the Swede seemed to lose heart and Rafter had four match points to sew up his win, finally taking the tie-break 7-5 on the final match point. Rafter will now meet second seed Andre Agassi for the third consecutive year at the semi-final stage of Wimbledon.
"It's starting to become a little bit of a tradition here at Wimbledon," said Rafter of his semi-final pairing. "I know the English love their traditions. You know, there is nothing more exciting than playing a guy like Andre at Wimbledon. It would be better if was the final though!" he added. In 1999. Agassi beat Rafter in straight sets but last year, the Australian triumphed in a five-set thriller.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
