US Open, DAY 10

Andre loses focus against Fed, but still has a chance
Lindsay to meet Kuznetsova in semis

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Ron Cioffi/TR.net

Agassi still has a shot while Sveta has a step-up match against Lindsay.

FROM THE US OPEN – On a Wednesday evening where Andre Agassi suddenly lost his focus and therefore the third set against Roger Federer and now finds himself down two sets to one going into Thursday’s play, Lindsay Davenport and Svetlana Kuznetsova set up an intriguing semifinal by posting impressive wins.

After rain washed out all of day play, all four matches began in the evening. First, Davenport floored Shinobu Asagoe 6-1, 6-1 in a mere 46 minutes on Armstrong. Then No. 9 Kuznetsova overcame her Russian elder, No. 14 Nadia Petrova 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Tim Henman went out to the grandstand and grabbed the first two sets 6-1, 7-5 from Dominik Hrbaty and then gave a break back in the third. He’s now serving at 4-5.

But it was the delectable Agassi-Federer match that drew fans from out of their rain-soaked homes. At 7:50 p.m., when the two walked on court, there were maybe 4,000 fans in attendance. An hour later, Ashe Stadium had packed in a good 10,000 more.

FEDERER FIRST, ANDRE SECOND
Federer roared in the first set, serving huge and controlling the court with his forehand. But a super-determined Agassi snatched control of the match in the second set as the Swiss’ serve began to sputter and he couldn’t buy a volley. Moreover, Agassi stood proudly in the center of the court and hammered at the ball, seriously denting Federer’s backhand.

In the third set, Agassi had a terrific chance to seize control of the match, holding two break points at 1-0. But Federer smoked a 127-mph ace and forced Agassi into a forehand error. The two fought like ravenous lions until the eleventh game, when Agassi inexplicably lost his concentration and committed a forehand error, double faulted and then couldn’t lift a reasonable backhand down the line over the net for the break. Federer ended the set with two 130-mph service winners. The rain came back at deuce in the opening game of the fourth. The Swiss now has the clear edge headed into Thursday.

LINDSAY SHOWS GREAT GAME
Davenport played a clean contest against the overmatched Asagoe and is now just two matches from regaining the No. 1 ranking. Kuznetsova became the first young Russian to beat an elder Russian in a big Slam match this year. "I’ve never really seen her play much," Davenport said.

Davenport’s coach, Adam Peterson, better go take a close look at Kuznetsova, who could seriously challenge Davenport off the ground, is volleying quite well and serving big. "When I play singles, I am not that famous," said Kuznetsova, who has played in front of big crowds because she played doubles with Martina Navratilova last year. "I’m not so popular like [Maria] Sharapova. Not many people look in the paper and say, ‘Wow, Kuznetsova is seeded. She should be good and we should watch her.’ … I know Lindsay’s tough and is in her best shape, but I believe I can do it."

PATMAC NAME US DAVIS CUP TEAM
USTA and US Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe announced that Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and the No. 2 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan will play against Belarus in the Davis Cup semis, Sept. 24-26 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. Mike Bryan is having hip problems and could be facing surgery, but is holding off because of Davis Cup. However, the Bryans haven’t had a good year by their standards and if they falter in this contest, a change could be in order for the probable final against Spain.

Ron Cioffi/TR.net

Hall of Fame candidate Jim Courier is playing senior tournaments in Europe.

HALL CONTENDERS & PRETENDERS
Here's my early call on the eight people who have been named to the 2005 International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ballot. Jim Courier, yes, four Slams make him a lock; one-Slammer, Yannick Noah, yes, only because of his Davis and Fed Cup titles as a coach; one-Slammer Jana Novotna, I'm still considering because of her 12 Slam doubles titles; Owen Davidson, no; Christine Truman Janes, no; Patricia Canning Todd, no; contributors Earl "Butch" Buchholz, Jr. and Eiichi Kawatei – TBD.

Monica Seles told TennisReporters.net’s and USA Today Doug Robson and that’s she’ still unsure as to whether she is coming back.