Paris, Jun 04: Andre Agassi’s bid to land a second French Open crown ended in failure today when Argentine seventh seed Guillermo Coria beat the 33-year-old American 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the men’s semi-finals.
Agassi, playing the 999th match of his sparkling career which has brought a complete collection of Grand Slam singles titles - achieved uniquely on three different surfaces - was hoping to stay on course for a fourth final appearance after his 1999 success and losing appearances in 1990 and 1991. Had he made the final he would have displaced Australian Lleyton Hewitt as world No.1 for the second time this season.

Instead it was Coria who moved on after a 2hr 32min blistering display of passion and precision - after he had recovered from losing the opening set having squandered a 4-1 lead.
At the death an exhausted Agassi drove long and Coria slumped over the net, hardly able to drink in a famous win.
“That was really hard. Agassi is my childhood idol,” said the 21-year-old from Rufino, who experienced the agony of a doping suspension two seasons ago for taking a food supplement which later proved to be contaminated.



“It’s a dream to get into the semis at Roland Garros,” added Coria, who had never previously come so far at a Grand Slam event. “I really wanted to win this one. I put all the tiredness behind me and fought for every point even if I messed up the first set.” Coria said he believed Agassi would be back. “I think Andre will be back a few more times - he’s still in good shape.”



In the women’s section, top seed Serena Williams mauled home favourite Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-2 to reach the French Open semi-finals.



The brutality of the defending champion’s tennis stunned the world No.5 and silenced the expectant Roland Garros crowd. “I am on a mission,” said Williams, winner of the last four Grand Slam titles. “She gave 100 percent but it is hard to play your best game when I am playing well.”



The slight Justine Henin-Hardenne is next to step into the firing line after she beat American Chanda Rubin 6-3, 6-2. It will not be a prospect the Belgian will relish if she watches a recording of Williams’ performance. Second seed Kim Clijsters and Russian surprise package Nadia Petrova will meet in the other semifinal on Thursday.



Serena was awesome. She leapt into a 4-0 lead on a damp and overcast centre court as Mauresmo wondered what had hit her. Broad-shouldered and standing 1.75 metres tall, the French player is one of only a handful who can stand up to the formidable Williams sisters, matching them for strength. On Tuesday, however, Serena was irresistible. She motored through the set in 22 minutes, Mauresmo and her compatriots blinking as the winners flew past. While the top seed drove her shots with immense power, Mauresmo seemed to shrink, her first victory over Serena in Rome this month seeming nothing more than a bizarre aberration.



Shoulders drooping, Mauresmo swiftly fell 0-4 behind in the second set on a day of promise which had quickly turned sour. She managed token resistance towards the end of the ordeal — winning two more games — but left her home Grand Slam once again unfulfilled.