SYDNEY, 16 January 2004 — Carlos Moya believes he is one of the main contenders for the Australian Open title after cruising into the semifinals of the Sydney International with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Tommy Robredo yesterday.

Moya reached the final of the Australian Open in 1997 after finishing runner-up in Sydney a week earlier and is hoping he can go one step further this time after a great start to the new year.

“I think I am playing better now than in 1997,” the 27-year-old said after the victory over his fellow Spaniard. “With every match I play, the more confident I get.”

As the highest ranked player left in the draw, he is now the clear favorite to win, with Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, seventh seed here, posing the biggest threat.

Hewitt is also showing signs of returning to his best after sliding down the rankings from first to 16th last year, winning six matches on the trot this year, three at the Hopman Cup in Perth then three more in Sydney.

Hewitt, who won the Sydney title in 2000 and 2001, booked his place in the last four with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Arnaud Clement, 2001 Australian Open runner-up.

Hewitt will play last year’s French Open runner-up Martin Verkerk today after the Dutchman defeated Australia’s Wimbledon runner-up Mark Philippoussis 6-4, 7-6.

Moya faces Wayne Ferreira after the South African beat Australian wildcard Todd Reid 6-4, 6-4 to avenge his loss in Adelaide last week.

Injury Scare for Justine and Davenport

Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne and Lindsay Davenport of the United States both survived injury scares to win their quarterfinal matches at the Sydney International.

Henin-Hardenne sprained her ankle and needed treatment for blisters before beating American Chanda Rubin 6-3, 4-6 6-4 while Davenport strained a shoulder muscle during her 6-3, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Elena Dementieva.

Amelie Mauresmo of France also booked her place in the last four with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Russia’s Anastasia Myskina. She will play Francesca Schiavone today after the Italian beat Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi of Israel 6-2, 6-2.

Agassi Blunts Federer at Kooyong Event

In Melbourne, Andre Agassi pummeled Wimbledon champion Roger Federer 6-2, 6-4 yesterday, installing himself as the pre-tournament favorite of the fans and pundits to retain his Australian Open crown.

While Federer is the favorite for the first grand slam of the season which begins on Monday, Agassi’s overwhelming victory left few who witnessed the one-sided Kooyong International match in much doubt who was in the better form.

“Today we had a little less wind, it was pretty calm,” Agassi told reporters after creating his own cyclone on center court.

It took the American only 22 minutes to snatch the opening set under a bright Melbourne sun as world No. 2 Federer struggled to contain the 33-year-old’s pace.

Smashing his backhand all over the court, Agassi broke Federer to love in the first game of the second set and the Swiss walked back to his chair looking downtrodden and disillusioned.

Australian Open champion in 2002, Thomas Johansson’s preparations took a knock when he was thrashed 6-4, 6-2 by Sebastien Grosjean.

Swede Johansson, who missed nearly all of last year through injury, took a set off Federer on Wednesday but 24 hours later was disappointing against the French baseliner. Robby Ginepri finished off play on day two, beating fellow American Taylor Dent 7-5, 6-1.

Novak, Kuerten Reach Soggy New Zealand Semis

Auckland, former champions Jiri Novak and Gustavo Kuerten looked intent on repeating history as both advanced into the semifinals of the $404,000 Heineken Open on a rainy day yesterday.

Novak, who made Auckland his first career title with a win in 1996, advanced over Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, recovering from a lost-cause opening set 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Holder Kuerten, Brazil’s three-time Roland Garros winner, moved ahead at the expense of American fifth seed Vince Spadea 6-2, 7-6 in a match delayed by the weather.

Another former winner, Slovak Dominik Hrbaty, who triumphant in 2001, held a lead over German surprise packet Philipp Kohlschreiber, a qualifier, 6-1, 3-6, 1-0.

Rain halted that match in the deciding set with the conclusion set for today.

Asagoe to Play Frazier in Tasmanian WTA Final

In Hobart, Australia, Japan’s Shinobu Asagoe will play American Amy Frazier in the final of the WTA Tasmanian International tennis tournament today.

Sixth seed Asagoe had to fight hard to claim a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 win over unseeded Puerto Rican Kristina Brandi, who knocked her out of last week’s Auckland WTA event.