HOUSTON, 15 November 2003 — Andre Agassi claimed an explosive 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 win over David Nalbandian on Thursday, reaching the semifinals of the ATP Masters Cup and a step closer to the title he last held 13 years ago.
Agassi, who has not claimed the Masters since his first visit to the year-end finale in 1990, will next face Germany’s Rainer Schuettler today in a rematch of the Australian Open final for a chance to play for season’s final prize. With second place in the Blue Group standings and a spot in the final four of the $3.65 million year-end event riding on the outcome, tempers flared on a chilly stadium court with an enraged Nalbandian accusing tournament officials of favoring Americans with their calls.
After losing a hotly-contested first set tie-break that featured two disputed calls and Agassi triumphing 12-10 on a double fault, Nalbandian engaged in heated exchange with umpire Enric Molina heightening the tension in match already tingling with excitement. That outburst brought ATP supervisor Mark Darby onto the court, who tried to calm the fiery Argentine.
Much of Nalbandian’s anger was directed at tournament owner and promoter Jim McIngvale, who invested $27 million in this event but has come under criticism in some corners for his rampant support of American players from his front row seat behind the baseline.
Earlier in the day, Schuettler stunned Roddick 4-6, 7-7, 7-6 spoiling the American’s coronation as the year-end world number one.
Having clinched the year-end ranking when Andre Agassi downed Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero on Wednesday evening, Roddick lacked his usual intensity against Schuettler never finding top gear, committing 49 unforced errors and eight double faults in a two hour, 35 minute struggle.
In the day’s only other match, Coria swept past Spain’s Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-3 to keep his hopes of advancing alive.
Frenchmen Advance to ATP Masters Cup Doubles Final
France’s Fabrice Santoro and Michael Llodra advanced to the ATP Masters Cup finals with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Canadian Daniel Nestor and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas. The sixth-ranked Frenchmen will play in today’s final against the winner of semifinal between world number one Mike and Bob Bryan of the United States and eighth-ranked Gaston Etlis and Martin Rodriguez of Argentina. Santoro and Llodra won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in Melbourne — their only title together and their lone victory over Knowles and Nestor in four prior tries.
