Kuerten upsets Agassi

MIAMI, APRIL 1. Second-ranked Pete Sampras and Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten advanced to the Ericsson Open final with triumphs on Friday while world No. 1, Andre Agassi struggled with an injured right leg.

Sampras dumped rising Australian star Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 3-6, 6- 1 while Kuerten vanquished Agassi - the U.S., Australian and French Open champion - 6-1, 6-4 in 66 minutes to end a four-game skid against the American.

``It's always nice to beat somebody who defeated you four times in a row, especially him, number one and perhaps the best player in the world,'' Kuerten said.

Try as he did, Agassi was helpless against the swift south American. ``I didn't stand a chance,'' Agassi said. ``You can hope for miracles, but I felt like there was nothing I could do that was going to make an impression on him. It was not a fun experience.''

The injury leaves Agassi a question mark for next week's second- round Davis Cup tie between the U.S and the Czech Republic in Los Angeles. ``I should be all right for that,'' Agassi said. ``It will probably take three or four days before I can really move a 100 per cent on it.''

lThe results (semifinals): Pete Sampras bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 3- 6, 6-1 and Gustavo Kuerten bt Andre Agassi 6-1, 6-4.

- AFP

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