Pat Rafter wore down Magnus Larsson 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 6-2 yesterday to become the first seeded man to reach the semi-finals of the 1997 US Open in New York.

The 13th-seeded Australian showed no ill-effects from his exhausting fourth-round victory over former champion Andre Agassi, subduing his Swedish opponent in just one hour and 49 minutes.

However, he did need four match points to put Larsson away. He served his fifth ace of the match for triple match point. He thought his next serve was an ace, but it was called wide, then Larsson fired back a return winner off Rafter's second serve.

Rafter double-faulted on the next point and Larsson saved the next with a cross-court shot that died on Rafter's racquet. But Rafter sealed it two points later with a service winner.