Dateline: 01/27/00

The much anticipated semi-final between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras in this 2000 Australian Open may have actually exceeded expectations. Agassi prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0), 7-6 (5), 6-1. As the score may indicate, only the fifth set saw either player falter. On a fast court, having won four of their last five meetings, Sampras was, in my mind and many others, favored to win, yet despite his serving 37 aces, he could not shake Agassi's determination. When Agassi got a piece of a Sampras serve, he often hit the kind of brilliant return that only he can. A few key returns and tremendous gets by Agassi made the difference as he barely escaped the fourth set, coming within two points of losing. Sampras lost steam in the fifth, apparently suffering from either an injury, fatigue, or disappointment.

Agassi will face either second seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov or twelfth seed Magnus Norman. They play tonight. Norman ended the hopes of Australian fans that Lleyton Hewitt's terrific winning streak of 2000 would carry through this tournament, then dismissed another young, rising star, Nicolas Kiefer. Norman had an excellent 1999, winning five ATP Tour titles, and he has been tested more than Kafelnikov, who has worked through a fairly easy draw with appropriate efficiency. Kafelnikov made a point yesterday to remind fans that the Agassi-Sampras match did not decide the ultimate champion as some have suggested.

If Kafelnikov wins tonight, both singles finals will be completely on form: number one versus number two. Top seed Martina Hingis made it through her semifinal against Conchita Martinez rather easily, 6-3, 6-2. Second seed Lindsay Davenport had to work a little harder against Jennifer Capriati, whose comeback has been one of the best stories of this tournament. Davenport has beaten Hingis in their last three encounters, and the fast surface here will work to her advantage, but she is suffering a strained groin, and Hingis hasn't lost here in four years. Both players are in fine form. If Davenport's injury isn't too big a factor, this final should showcase some high-quality tennis.

As Grand Slam history continues to be made, we lose the first ever Grand Slam winner, Don Budge, who died of cardiac arrest Wednesday at age 84. Budge, who won the Grand Slam in 1938, is still often credited with the best backhand in the history of the game.

Share your thoughts at our tennis forum. Comments from anyone who knew or had watched Don Budge would be especially interesting.

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