Agassi outlasts Rafter to make final

Defending champion Andre Agassi beat a crippled Pat Rafter 7-5, 2-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the Australian Open final for the third time.

Agassi sealed victory in just over three hours after the Australian's legs cramped up so badly that he could hardly run.

Rafter had led by two sets to one when his legs started to seize up, but won just four more games as a fresher Agassi strolled to victory.

Rafter, who was bidding to become the first local player since Pat Cash in 1998 to make the men's singles final, needed treatment after the fourth set but bravely played on even though he was in obvious discomfort.

Agassi, who won the Australian Open in 1995 and again last year, will play the winner of Friday's second semifinal between Frenchmen Arnaud Clement and Sebastien Grosjean in Sunday's final.