PARIS, June 6: Russia’s Marat Safin completed a dismal day for French sport as he knocked home tenth seed Sebastien Grosjean out of the quarter-finals of the French Open 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

The second seed’s clinical win in one hour, 43 minutes came just a few hours after defending champions France were held to a 0-0 draw by Uruguay at the World Cup, another disappointment for the French after losing to Senegal last Friday.

Grosjean’s exit in front of a sellout crowd of 15,000 on a dry day at Roland Garros leaves Safin and three clay-courting Spaniards to contest the semi-finals Friday.

Fourth seed Andre Agassi’s fight-back failed to hold up as the fourth seed crashed out in a held-over math to Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3.

Agassi had his troubles against Ferrero, a decade younger at age 22, in a match of which a mere 36 minutes was played during a frustrating and rainy Wednesday.

Two-time finalist Alex Corretja set up a Spanish showdown on the other side of the draw, beating Romanian Andre Pavel 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, 7-5. He will play Albert Costa, who won through on Tuesday.

The last time three Spaniards reached this stage was four years ago through Corretja, Felix Mantilla and eventual winner Carlos Moya.

Safin took advantage of an injured Grosjean, who came in with a leg muscle injury which required on-court treatment. The Russian imposed himself almost at will as the French challenge faded.

Grosjean put a forehand out to lose.

Agassi let three break point chances against Ferrero go in the 11th game of the third set after winning the second to square the rain-interrupted match from Wednesday.

The veteran then lost serve to lose the set and never threatened afterwards, producing 87 unforced errors to 71 for the young Spaniard.

Agassi fell to 1-5 in the fourth, squeezing in a token break before losing.

Agassi’s loss in two hours, 45 minutes ended a ten-match winning streak on clay dating to his title in Rome last month.

Third seed Serena Williams clawed her way back from a set down to stun defending champion Jennifer Capriati 3-6 7-6 6-2 and reach her first final.

The American, who had never made it past the quarter-finals in Paris, gradually outpaced her top-seeded compatriot in an enthralling 132-minute clash before blowing kisses to the crowd and shrugging in amazement as centre court fans cheered her off.

The match was not a classic and nerves affected both players throughout the contest.

After Capriati had wrapped up the opening set, it was smiles all round in the players’ box as ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry and Capriati’s father Stefano roared her on.

But Williams, watched by mother Oracene, hit straight back, storming into a 5-2 lead in the second before she was struck rigid by the pressure.

Capriati hauled her way back into the set and led 6-5 before Williams woke up, held serve to force the tiebreak and then levelled the match.

With the momentum clearly in her favour, the 20-year-old did not lose another game from 2-2 in the decider to reach her first French Open final.

Capriati, who had beaten Williams in the quarter-finals here last year, conceded neither player had played their best tennis.

RESULTS:

MEN (quarterfinals):

2-Marat Safin (Russia) beat 10-Sebastien Grosjean (France) 6-3 6-2 6-2; 11-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat 4-Andre Agassi (U.S.) 6-3 5-7 7-5 6-3; 18-Alex Corretja (Spain) beat 22-Andrei Pavel (Romania) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 7-5

WOMEN (semifinal): 3-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat 1-Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) 3-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-2. 2-Venus Williams (U.S.) beat Clarisa Fernandez (Argentina) 6-1, 6-4—dpa/Reuters