Beating Agassi, Ferrero to face Roddick

The French Open champion said he "worked a lot for this No. 1."
NEW YORK (AP) -- Andy Roddick rallied from two sets down to beat exhausted David Nalbandian 6-7 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-1, 6-3 on Saturday to reach the U.S. Open final, his first trip to the championship of a Grand Slam.
Hours after countryman Andre Agassi lost to French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roddick made sure one American would be represented in the singles finals at Flushing Meadows.
With Belgian countrywomen Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne facing off for the women's title Saturday night, a loss by Roddick would have marked the first time the Open didn't have an American in either the men's or women's final since 1988, when Mats Wilander beat Ivan Lendl and Steffi Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini.
Cheering Roddick on
"Save CBS, Andy!" one man hollered, referring to the TV ratings.
Roddick rode his powerful serve to this remarkable victory, pounding a career-high 38 aces in the 3-hour, 31-minute match.
When asked how he pulled it off, Roddick said: "I don't know, very carefully, I guess. I thought I had a little bit left in the tank, a little bit more than he did. To his disadvantage, he had to play a couple more matches than I did in the last few days."
Agassi ran into one inspired Spaniard.
Ferrero had so many reasons to be ready for this semifinal showdown, the most important of which was a spot in the title match of the U.S. Open for the first time.
Ferrero beat Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, using spectacular shotmaking and hustle to win their semifinal and overtake Agassi for the No. 1 ranking.
Ferrero was playing on center court for the first time all tournament, and Agassi had two extra days off during a rain-delayed week.
"I worked a lot for this No. 1," Ferrero said. "I'm really happy to be the No. 1. It's the first time, and I'm going to work hard to continue to be No. 1."
Developments for Ferrero
Here's how well things went for Ferrero: At 1-1 in the third set, he sprinted, his back to the net, toward the baseline to retrieve a ball. He swung the racket between his legs and the ball headed over the net, where Agassi was coming forward. Agassi volleyed to the open court, but Ferrero chased it and nailed a running forehand passing shot for a winner.
A pro-Agassi crowd gave the Spaniard a standing ovation, and Ferrero waved and threw his arms into the air to celebrate. Ferrero hit a similar between-the-legs shot for a winner in the third round against Juan Ignacio Chela.
The 23-year-old player with the streaked and tousled hair and nicknamed "Mosquito" played five more sets to reach the semis than the 33-year-old Agassi.
Ferrero showed few signs of fatigue, though a trainer taped both of his thighs during the changeover at 2-1 in the fourth set. Ferrero reached the Open's third round the past two years and the fourth round in 2000, the deepest he'd gone in the draw before this.
"I didn't play so good a couple of years in the U.S. Open," he said. "This time, I'm playing very good tennis on the hard courts."
The fans who packed Arthur Ashe Stadium hollered "Viva, Las Vegas, Andre!" and "Wake up, Andre!" When someone yelled "Come on!" there was the slightest bit of disgust in her voice.
Agassi broke serve for a 4-3 lead in the third set, the first time in the match he was ahead, then won the next two games to take the set.
"By the time I was getting into the match, I was already two sets down, so that's difficult," Agassi said.
Ferrero broke at love for 5-4 in the fourth, pumping his fist as he switched sides. He hit 51 winners to Agassi's 47 and pounded 10 aces to 12 for Agassi.