Sampras downs Agassi in U.S. Open classic

Pete Sampras defeated Andre Agassi in a tension-filled, electrifying battle of wills between Grand Slam greats on Wednesday night to advance to the U.S. Open semifinals.

In one of the tightest matches imaginable, with sensationally high-quality tennis from two players with 20 Grand Slam titles between them, the four-time champion took three of four tiebreaks, winning 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 to advance to the final four at Flushing Meadows for the eighth time in his glorious career.

Break points were at a premium and service breaks non-existent as neither player dropped his serve in the three hour and 32 minute classic that ended well after midnight.

"Anything can happen when you get down to a tiebreaker," said Agassi, who had captured his seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year.

"You got to give credit where credit is due and Pete played the big points real well and pulled out a match that is disappointing for me, but I was glad to be part of it," Agassi said. "We both worked hard out here tonight and it went his way."

Agassi, 31, was the second successive double U.S. Open champion gunned down by 30-year-old Sampras after his fourth round win over Patrick Rafter.

And the 10th seed next must face third-seeded defending champion Marat Safin of Russia in Saturday's semifinals.

Just to get to the final, Sampras will have to beat every player who has won the U.S. Open since he last lifted the trophy here in 1996 -- Rafter (1997, '98), Agassi (1999) and Safin (2000).

"It was a pleasure playing tonight. The energy was phenomenal," said Sampras.