SAN JOSE (California), Feb 15: Andre Agassi fought off a match point and a spirited effort by Belarussian Vladimir Voltchkov to book his spot in the semifinals of the San Jose Open 6-7 7-6 6-1 on Friday.
The top seed will face compatriot James Blake, a 7-5 6-2 winner over Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Sixth seed Davide Sanguinetti of Italy and unseeded American Justin Gimelstob also powered through to the last four.
Sanguinetti overcame Vince Spadea 6-1 7-5 while Gimelstob upset eighth seed Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark 6-3 6-4.
RESULTS (quarterfinal): (prefix number denotes seeding, denotes new result): 3-James Blake bt Nikolay Davydenko 7-5 6-2, Andre Agassi bt Vladimir Voltchkov 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (8-6) 6-1, Davide Sanguinetti bt Vince Spadea 6-1 7-5, Justin Gimelstob b Kenneth Carlsen 6-3 6-4.
LIKHOVTSEVA IN FINAL
DOHA, Feb 15: Fifth seeded Elena Likhovtseva of Russia stormed into the final of the WTA Tour’s $170,000 Qatar Open by defeating her error-prone compatriot Lina Krasnoroutskaya 6-4 6-3 on Saturday.
In Sunday’s final, Likhovtseva will take on the winner of the second semifinal between another Russian, second seed Anastasia Myskina, and Patricia Wartusch of Austria.
Wild card Krasnoroutskaya, conqueror of top seed Monica Seles and seventh seed Conchita Martinez en route to the semifinals, committed numerous errors and her form deserted her when in mattered most.—Reuters