E-Paper
Ferrero takes top ranking with win over Agassi
Juan Carlos Ferrero knocked Andre Agassi out of the US Open 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on Saturday.
Juan Carlos Ferrero knocked Andre Agassi out of the US Open 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 on Saturday, and will replace him as the world's top-ranked man in the new rankings this week.
"To be at No. 1, it's a special day for me," Ferrero said. "I am playing good. I have a lot of confidence. I can do every shot." Ferrero will next face No. 4 Andy Roddick, who rallied from two sets down to beat exhausted David Nalbandian 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1, 6-3 and reached his first Grand Slam final.
"I'm pumped. I came here so many times when I was younger, and I can't believe I'm actually in a US Open final," said Roddick, the 2000 junior Open champion.
"It would be great to go one step further."
With Justine Henin-Hardenne beating Kim Clijsters 7-5, 6-1 in an all-Belgian women's championship match Saturday night, a loss by Roddick would have meant no Americans in either singles final at a US Open for the first time since 1988.
But Roddick showed real grit, erasing a match point in the third set en route to his season-leading 18th straight victory. He's 36-2 since teaming with coach Brad Gilbert, Agassi's former mentor, after a first-round exit at the French Open.
"It's maturity. By playing, you learn. I feel confident right now, so I didn't feel there was a need to panic," Roddick said, referring to his two-set deficit. "To come through that gave me new life. I was almost down and out anyway. I just decided to go for it."
Ferrero, the reigning French Open champion, was inspired in his first match in Arthur Ashe Stadium all tournament, and appeared to be fresher than Agassi, who had two extra days off during a rain-delayed week at Flushing Meadows.
Remarkably, he outslugged Agassi from the baseline, all the while zipping from corner to corner with the speed that earned the nickname "Mosquito."
No shot was more spectacular than one through his legs with his back to the net in the third set. Agassi volleyed that back, and Ferrero switched directions and sprinted up for a crosscourt forehand passing winner.
"He was just taking care of his business better than I was," Agassi said. "By the time I was getting into the match, I was already two sets down. So that's difficult."
Ferrero will have his fourth match in four days Sunday, the first time anyone has been asked to do that at a Grand Slam tournament in the 35-year Open era.
He showed few signs of fatigue Saturday, though a trainer taped both of his thighs during the changeover at 2-1 in the fourth set.
