Top-ranked Roger Federer outlasted former No. 1 Andre Agassi, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open yesterday in Indian Wells, Calif.
Federer, 22, and Agassi, 33, played mostly from the baseline in the 100-degree heat, with the Swiss star's quickness finally turning the match his way.
Jon-Dahl Tomasson of Denmark celebrates one of his two goals in AC Milan's win over Parma.
(Luca Bruno -- AP)
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Tied at 4 in the third set and down 40-15 with Agassi serving, Federer raced to his left to return a deep shot, whirled all the way around and dashed far to his right to hit a forehand, then ended the point by rushing forward to power another forehand by the drawn-in Agassi.
Federer won the next three points to go up a break, then served out for his 26th victory in 27 matches, including a 21-1 start to 2004.
Federer will play for the title today against Tim Henman, who defeated Irakli Labadze, 6-3, 6-2.
• SKIING:Daron Rahlves won the men's super giant slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships in Girdwoood, Alaska.
Rahlves finished in 1 minute 8.72 seconds. Dane Spencer was second (1:09.29) and Jake Fiala third (1:09.67).
Lindsey Kildow won the women's race, one day after suffering a slight concussion in a fall in the downhill.
• SPEEDSKATING:Song Suk Woo won the men's 500-meter sprint at the world short-track championships in Goteborg, Sweden, while American Rusty Smith was taken to the hospital with a severe nose injury.
Smith was skating into the second curve during the quarterfinals when he was hit by the skate of Jean Charles Mattei, who had raised his right skate while losing his balance. Mattei recovered and avoided falling. But Smith, his nose bleeding and partly loose, was treated by a physician before being wheeled off the ice and taken to a hospital a few blocks away.
• WRESTLING: Matt Gentry gave Stanford its first champion and Jesse Jantzen became the first Harvard winner since 1938, and Oklahoma State wrapped up its second straight title at the NCAA championships in St. Louis.
The Cowboys won one of three finals, their only less-than-dominating day, but entered the championship round with a 411/2-point lead and won by that margin for their 32nd title.
• SOCCER: AC Milan beat Parma, 3-1, to extend its Italian league lead to 10 points with eight games left.
Jon Dahl Tomasson scored twice for AC Milan and Andriy Shevchenko added another goal.
AC Milan has 67 points, with AS Roma at 57 and defending champion Juventus third at 56.
• GOLF: LPGA golfer Rosie Jones has publicly acknowledged she is a lesbian and has entered a sponsorship agreement with a travel company that caters to a gay clientele.
Beginning at next weekend's Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., the 44-year-old Jones will be sponsored by Olivia, a prominent company that provides travel services to gays.
• FIELD HOCKEY: The U.S. women's team lost, 3-1, to Japan in its first game at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The Americans, who need to finish in the top five of the 10-team tournament to qualify for Athens, will face South Korea today.
-- From News Services
