Blake to clash with Agassi in US Open quarters

Agassi beat Malisse to become the oldest man into the US Open quarters since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

Miracle man James Blake played his way into a dream US Open quarter-final clash against legendary Andre Agassi, little more than a year after wondering if he would ever take to the court again.

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The number 49 earned a third career win over Spain's Tommy Robredo 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

The against-the-odds continuation of Blake's career stands as a marvel of medical science, after the New York-born player cracked a neck vertebrae during a spring 2004 collision with a metal net post in Rome.

After that shock, the player also suffered a facial paralysis and the death of his father. He showed determination with a return to form through a second-ever career title, lifted last weekend in New Haven, Connecticut.

Blake won only his ninth career match at the Open as he overcame Roberdo in a spirited comeback.

Old pro Agassi let a quick victory slip from his grasp but recovered to drive Xavier Malisse out in just less than three hours, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-2.

Against Malisse, Agassi needed to rally after a slump while leading two sets to love and 5-3 in the third-set tiebreaker.

Agassi bore down as the contest spiralled into a fifth set, firing three straight aces to take a 5-2 lead before breaking Malisse's service game to become the oldest man into the US Open quarters since Jimmy Connors in 1991.

"I was not happy about being in a fifth after being up two sets to love, but I did know I was going to make him earn it," said the eight-time Grand Slam champion playing in his 20th open.

Argentine eighth seed Guillermo Coria triumphed in a bad-tempered match, which became the longest of the tournament at four hours, 32 minutes, winning a South American battle with Chile's Nicolas Massu 6-4, 2-6, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2.

Women's number two Lindsay Davenport, the 1998 champion, was untroubled by France's Nathalie Dechy, delivering a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing to move to an 8-0 mark in their series.

Third seed Amelie Mauresmo ousted Russia's Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 6-4, while 2004 finalist Elena Dementieva dispatched Swiss 11th seed Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-3.

"Today was the best match I have played since Wimbledon," said Davenport, whose summer tune-up consisted of one title a week ago at New Haven, after the flare-up of a back injury kept her away for most of a month.

"It's the kind of tennis I want to play. What happens on Wednesday, I have no idea. But I am really happy to be in the quarters. It will be a tricky match-up. Dementieva will try to hit the ball harder than I do," said the Californian.

--DPA

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