Australian Pat Rafter has beaten Andre Agassi in yet another epic Wimbledon semi-final to reach the final for a second consecutive year. Rafter triumphed over the American at the very same stage to make it into last year's final but he lost out there to Pete Sampras. However, he now has the opportunity to make amends after beating the numer two seed 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-2 8-6 in a thrilling tie on Centre Court this afternoon.
It was Agassi, who had already beaten Rafter twice this year, who made the better start as he took the opening set with style. He broke Rafter's serve in the third game with a series of blistering returns and groundstrokes. He broke again in the fifth game and served out to take the set in a mere 24 minutes.
However, the balance of the match swung around to Rafter's favour in the second set and the Australian, somehow undisturbed by the events of the opener, recovered his serve to win the first game to love and then broke Agassi's serve for the first time in the match to gain the advantage. He managed to hold on to his own service game with three aces despite hitting two double faults and with the games going to serve, the Australian levelled matters at 1-1 by taking the set 6-3.
But no sooner had Rafter gained the upper-hand in the tie, Agassi struck back in the third set to shift the balance of power once more. The American broke to go 4-2 up after another stunning return forced the Australian to make an error. Agassi produced some outstanding tennis for the remainder of the set to win 6-3.
However, in the fourth set, Agassi became involved in a dispute with a line judge over two separate line calls and suddenly he looked unsettled as Rafter seized the initiative. The two calls made by the same female line judge came in the crucial sixth game of the set and when Agassi was reprimanded by the same line judge for an audible obscenity Rafter capitalised on his opponent's break in concentration to win a break point and go 4-2 up. He served out for the set and for the second year in a row, their semi-final tie went down to the decider.
Agassi used his anger and frustration well when he channelled it into this tennis to break Rafter's serve in the first game of the final set. Rafter saved three break points to hold on to his next service game and from then on games went with serve until Agassi stepped up to serve for the match at 5-4. However, the American looked less assured than in previous games and Rafter pounced to break back and suddenly the match was wide open once more. Agassi had the chance to break back immediately but Rafter held on and on Agassi's next serve, Rafter forced three match points before finally converting the final one with a spectacular backhand to secure victory.
"I was very, very lucky," said Rafter afterwards. "He had a couple of opportunities that would have put me away early in the fifth set but he didn't take them and I'm very fortunate to get through. Nothing really went his way today, even the line judge gave him the code violation and probably a couple of dicey line-calls didn't go his way either."
"I sort of feel bad for him but I have to enjoy it also. I just wanted to hang in there and hold my serve. He was definitely the better player throughout the fifth set and I just got that last opportunity and got lucky," he added.
Agassi was, unsurprisingly, upset by the result. "I am disappointed and I have let an opportunity go by. Last year he won the fifth set more decisively but this year I had a lot of chances. You always enjoy Wimbledon but right now it is hard to enjoy anything. I have just got to move forward," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
