Andre Agassi tried to get this over in a hurry. He wanted a fast day at the US Open, just like Roger Federer.
Agassi made short work of marathon man Sargis Sargsian on Labour Day, sweeping out his longtime friend and occasional practice partner 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
The win came after Federer advanced in a walkover and set up an incredibly attractive match-up in the quarterfinals: the tournament’s top-seeded player versus the popular two-time champion.
”Should be a lot of fun,” said Agassi, who won in 1994 and 1999.
”I mean, there’s nothing more you ask for than to play a big event against the best player in this environment. It’s time to bring the best tennis.”
Tim Henman and Dominik Hrbaty also advanced. Still, all the anticipation surrounded the upcoming Agassi-Federer match-up.
Federer reached the Open quarterfinals for the first time when number 16 Andrei Pavel withdrew because of a herniated disc in his lower back several hours before their match started. Pavel missed six months last year with a bad back and wrist.
”It’s always an awkward feeling. Don’t call it a win,” Federer said. ”That’s how it is.”
Next up, a trip to Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday to face Agassi.
”That’s definitely something I’m looking forward to. I’ve never played the big matches at the Open. Not at night sessions,” Federer said. ”This is a big occasion for me to prove myself, to be deserving to be on the big stage.
”This is a quarterfinal that people have been looking forward to,” he said. ”Hopefully, we can fulfil the hopes of a big match.”
The sixth-seeded Agassi won in just 90 minutes. Sargsian’s last two matches totalled nearly 10 hours, though he said he felt fresh instead of fatigued.
”I never expect to win easily, and I think matches have the potential of looking that way more than feeling that way,” Agassi said.
Sargsian played the two longest matches of the tournament, needing five hours, nine minutes to beat Nicolas Massu in the second round and then taking 4:44 to defeat Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Agassi saw that last match on television.
”Never been so nervous in my life,” Agassi said. ”It’s a lot easier playing than watching when you really care about it. I was pulling for him. It was a great display of tennis and heart, by both players.”
Federer is trying to become the first man since 1988 to win three Grand Slam championships in a season. He lost in the fourth round the past three years.
”He does a lot of things really well. He does a few things really great. That makes him quite a tough player,” Agassi said. ”Most of the time, he’s making it look too easy to enjoy.”
Playing on his 30th birthday, Henman gave himself a neat present: his first trip to the Open quarters in his 10th visit to Flushing Meadows. He led a testy Nicolas Kiefer 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7 (4), 3-0 when the German pulled out with an injured right hand.
”I’m slowing up already,” Henman kidded.
Hrbaty rallied to oust Olivier Rochus 2-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.
Hrbaty overcame 77 unforced errors to make it to the Open quarterfinals for the first time. — Sapa-AP