March 31, 2002	Sunday	Muharram 16, 1423

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MIAMI, March 30: Switzerland’s Roger Federer upset top seed Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4 Friday to reach the final of the Nasdaq-100 Open Masters, handing the world number one his first defeat on American soil in 23 matches.

It was another impressive hardcourt performance by the 12th-seeded Swiss, who has not dropped a set or had his serve broken on the way to his first career Masters final.

Federer now meets defending champion Andre Agassi, who claimed his first career win over Marcelo Rios, and a place in the final for the seventh time, when the Chilean suddenly retired with their match level at 6-7 (7-9,) 6-4.

Unbeaten in the United States since his US Open victory last year and riding a two-tournament winning streak, Hewitt lacked his usual tenacity after an exhausting three-set quarter-final win over Russian Marat Safin on Thursday.

Hewitt’s four matches going into the semifinal averaged two hours while Federer disposed of his opponents in an average of 57 minutes.

“I was a little bit tired,” said Hewitt, who had been unbeaten since a bout of chickenpox sent him reeling at the Australian Open in January. “I got off to a bad start as well.

“He’s serving well but I had my chances. He’s playing the big points well. In the end, if I played the big points well, it could have been a different story.

“I think this could be a breakthrough year for him but whether he’s going to get up to top four or five (in the world), that’s another question.”

Federer, who had lost to the Australian in four of their five previous meetings, had only one early break in each set but that was all the edge the 20-year-old Swiss needed with Hewitt unable to convert his three break opportunities.

“It’s something special. I’ve never beaten the number one player before, plus I’ve broken his winning streak,” said Federer, who opened the season by claiming his second career title in Sydney.

“It’s a quite special moment for me, my first Masters final. I’m happy to give myself a chance to win the tournament.

“I’ve never beaten Andre, I’ve played him twice, once as a junior in my hometown and at the US Open last year, so I’m very excited.

“For me he is one of the best hardcourt players around next to Lleyton and I’m just really looking forward to it.”

Agassi’s path to a record fifth Miami title was eased when Rios retired from their semifinal with an injured right knee.

Having received treatment on his lightly-wrapped knee early in the match, Rios had given no hint of any distress until he calmly rose from his seat, walked over and shook Agassi’s hand before leaving the court under a shower of boos and whistles.

It was a disappointing conclusion to a pulsating afternoon of tennis during which a scowling Rios claimed the opening set 9-7 in a tiebreak and Agassi battled back to level the match with a break of serve at 5-4 in the second.

“I was definitely surprised,” said Agassi, who can match his wife Steffi Graf’s Miami record of five titles with one more win here.

“You’re in the middle of a battle out there, a hard fought match, and the last thing you’re thinking is the match coming to an abrupt end.

“I was very, very surprised. I didn’t notice anything wrong. The tape he was getting on the change overs I thought was just from sweating and needing a retape.

“I’ve seen him around playing with the bandage so I didn’t think he wasn’t fit to go.”

Even though he had reached the semifinals without dropping a set and only had his serve broken twice, Rios said the injury had plagued him throughout the tournament.

A defiant Rios, who had beaten Agassi in both previous career meetings, including the final of the 1998 Miami Masters, said he was convinced he would have maintained his 100 percent record over the American if tendonitis in his knee had not flared up.

“If I wasn’t injured there’s no way he can beat me,” said Rios, who like Agassi has recently become a father for the first time. “I think I was playing much better than him.

“I’ve had tendonitis for about two months and it’s going really bad. I’ve been struggling a lot with my knee, every day it’s a little worse.

“When I’m walking it’s not bad, it’s more when I serve and run. I was afraid yesterday I wouldn’t be able to play but I tried.”

Friday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Semifinals: 12-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 6-3, 6-4; 9-Andre Agassi (US) beat Marcelo Rios (Chile) 6-7 (7-9), 6-4 — retired.—Reuters