WASHINGTON, 3 August 2003 — Andre Agassi avenged last year’s defeat by James Blake at the $600,000 Washington Classic when the world number one outlasted his fellow American 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Friday to reach the semifinals.

Second seed Andy Roddick also progressed with a 6-1, 6-4 win over fellow American Mardy Fish after rain had suspended play for nearly two hours.

Roddick now faces 10th seed Tim Henman of Britain, who put out third seed Paradorn Srichaphan 7-6, 7-5. Agassi takes on fourth-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, a 7-6, 6-2 winner over seventh seed Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

Agassi needed one hour 49 minutes to dispose of Blake, 23.

The 33-year-old slammed 12 aces while his opponent hit eight.

The second quarterfinal was interrupted by torrential rain but the weather did little to stop Roddick, who tallied 13 aces and won 84 percent of his first serves.

Roddick disposed of Fish in only 50 minutes with blistering serves that topped 120 miles per hour.

The 20-year-old was 5-1 up in the first set when the rain came. Roddick, sporting his customary baseball cap, continued to dictate the tempo in the second set with several bullet returns.

Philippoussis Fires 22 Aces to Advance

In Los Angeles, Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis ended it the way he began — with an ace. The 26-year-old Australian blasted 22 aces on Friday in beating Brazilian hero Gustavo Kuerten 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) at the Los Angeles ATP event.

Philippoussis won the shootout between the big servers, dispatching Kuerten with a 126mph ace in the third-set tiebreaker to reach the semifinals of the 380,000 tournament. He also opened the one hour, 56 minute match with 133mph second-serve ace.

Philippoussis won eight of nine break points in a centre court night match that lived up to its premier billing.

Philippoussis is joined in the semis by countryman Lleyton Hewitt who rallied to beat Kenneth Carlsen 6-7 (6-3), 6-4, 6-3. German Nicolas Kiefer also reached the semis. All four singles matches on Friday went to three sets and three went over the two-hours. Ferreira upset No. 2 seed Sebastien Grosjean, of France, 7-6 (7-4), 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, while Kiefer ousted American journeyman Vince Spadea 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Easy for Clijsters, Henin and Davenport

In Carlsbad, California, Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Lindsay Davenport coasted into the semifinals of the $1 million Acura Classic on Friday.

Second seed Clijsters brushed aside unseeded American Lisa Raymond 6-2, 6-2, third seed Henin-Hardenne crushed unseeded Russian Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-2 in only 55 minutes while number four Davenport swept past fellow American Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-3.

Clijsters now faces Davenport while French Open champion Henin-Hardenne takes on 18-year-old Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who put out fellow countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva 6-2, 6-3.

After winning the Bank of the West Classic title in nearby Palo Alto last week, Clijsters arrived here with her confidence sky-high and she has dropped only six games in three matches.

Pistolesi Destroys Koukalova in Polish Open Final

In Sopot, Poland, Israel’s Anna Pistolesi took just over an hour to crush Czech Klara Koukalova 6-2, 6-0 in yesterday’s final of the Polish Open.

Third-seeded Pistolesi was never in trouble against nervous-looking Koukalova who displayed few flashes of the brilliance that had seen her advance to the final.

Belarus-born Pistolesi picks up $50,000 and 145 points on the WTA Tour, jumping at least three places up the rankings from 26th spot, according to a WTA official.

In the men’s event, David Ferrer came back from a set down to beat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 6-4 in an all-Spanish semifinal.