Safin Sends Agassi Out in Epic Battle

Unseeded Russian Marat Safin sent defending champion Andre Agassi crashing out of the Australian Open in five epic sets, ending an amazing 26 match winning run for the American, and booking himself a place in the final.

The 24-year-old survived a spirited comeback from Agassi before reaching his second Australian Open final with a dramatic 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 1-6, 6-3 victory in three hours and 41 minutes.

The American gave his traditional farewell bow to the crowd to a roaring crowd, moved by speculation that he will retire at the end of the year.

Had Agassi won he would have equalled Roy Emerson's record for consecutive wins at the tournament, which has stood since 1969.

"I still don't know (how I won)," said Safin. "I don't have the words to describe what I am feeling right now.

"To be on the same court as Andre Agassi and win the match in five sets after he back from two sets down, that's great."

Safin, who had played twice as much tennis to reach the semi-final as Agassi, could have been forgiven for starting with heavy legs after beating world No1 Andy Roddick in five sets just 48 hours before.

"I am barely standing right now," he said.

"You try to give everything, I don't have anything inside of me right now but I have two days off and I hope I have a great match in the final."

But the exuberant Russian was anything but sluggish, chasing down Agassi's clever angles and deft drop shots to test the four-time Australian Open champion as much as he has been at any time in Melbourne in the last five years.

After three hours and six minutes of remarkable tennis, Agassi had rallied from two sets down to force a decider.

He had not dropped a set in Melbourne since a fourth-round victory over Nicolas Escude last year - an incredible nine matches ago - but was stung in a dramatic first-set tiebreak after Safin had saved a set point when serving at 4-5.

In the tiebreak, the Russian lost a set point then sent back two ripping returns to deny the American before sealing the set with a scorching ace down the middle.

Informed spectators at the Rod Laver Arena knew they were in for a treat - in 50 Grand Slam matches Safin has lost only one after taking the first set.

That did nothing to deter an Agassi fight back, moving a break up at 3-1 and then conceding only one point in two service games to consolidate.

But Safin was displaying a depth and determination that was not always part of his game before last year's lengthy injury lay-off.

During that period, when he went camping and fishing during his recovery from an injured wrist, Safin rediscovered his love and desire for the sport and when Agassi was serving for the second set he pulled off two scorching returns to break back.

Agassi had to save two set points serving at 5-6 to force another tantalising tiebreak which, like the first, swung both ways before the Russian sealed it.

Safin was two sets up but there was hardly anything to separate the pair on court. Agassi was beginning to make unusually careless unforced errors but the third set remained a tight affair. Agassi's serve was under siege as Safin worked a break point early then pressed for deuces at 2-2 while holding his own serve to love twice in succession.

Then in the final game of the set, the situation reversed and Agassi broke Safin for just the second time in the match to haul a set back.

Agassi then levelled at two sets apiece as Safin suffered a lapse in concentration sparked by a questionable line-call.

Already a break down, the Russian's mind wondered and, resigned to a decider, he conserved energy as Agassi strung together five games to take it 6-1 and level the match.

However, the force was not with the 1992 Wimbledon champion and Safin saw out the deciding set 6-3 to end Agassi's amazing run.