Pete Sampras recaptured his aura of Grand Slam greatness with a thrilling quarter-final victory over Andre Agassi at the US Open yesterday.
In a classic battle befitting a Grand Slam final between two players with 20 major titles between them, four-times champion Sampras advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 victory over the second seed.
The 10th seed next faces third-seeded defending champion Marat Safin in a rematch of last year's final, won in straight sets by the Russian.
Safin (21) advanced to the final four with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Argentine Mariano Zabaleta, who had upset eighth seed Sebastien Grosjean and former finalist Greg Rusedski on his way to the quarter-finals.
In the women's competition, Jennifer Capriati earned a semi-final berth against defending champion Venus Williams after a confident 6-3, 6-4 victory over eighth seed Amelie Mauresmo.
Williams stormed into the semis by claiming her fifth consecutive straight-set win with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Kim Clijsters of Belgium earlier in the day.