Andre Agassi and Yevgeny Kafelnikov will meet in another Melbourne final after the Russian continued his rich form at the Kooyong Classic today.
Kafelnikov polished off Spanish youngster Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-4 in an hour in a semi-final to set up a decider with Agassi tomorrow.
Last year Agassi won his sixth grand slam title when he repulsed Kafelnikov in the final of the Australian Open here.
Kafelnikov has great respect for Agassi and Pete Sampras and was delighted to learn earlier in the day he had been kept apart from them in the draw for the Australian Open, getting under way in Melbourne on Monday.
His half of the draw looks easier with top seeded Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten, fourth seed Magnus Norman and young Australian hope Lleyton Hewitt.
Kafelnikov has been in tremendous touch at the eight-man exhibition tournament this week.
Frenchman Nicolas Escude and Ferrero will play off tomorrow for third place.
In today's other matches, Pat Rafter picked up some valuable match practice in defeating close friend Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), while Sampras accounted for German Nicolas Kiefer, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5). AFP