Agassi Has His Way Against Johansson

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Andre Agassi’s absence from the Australian Open this year helped Thomas Johansson win his first Grand Slam title. Johansson wasn’t so lucky at the Nasdaq-100 Open.

The ninth-seeded Agassi, seeking his fifth Key Biscayne title and second in a row, beat the eighth-seeded Johansson, 7-5, 6-2, Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals.

A wrist injury kept Agassi from bidding for his third consecutive Australian Open championship in January. He’s 12-2 since returning and looked sharp against Johansson of Sweden.

“It was definitely a letdown not playing Australia this year,” Agassi said. “It’s been a great place for me to get my year started. But now I’ve got a lot of energy, and I’m coming out of my shoes looking for competition.”

Agassi’s opponent today will be No. 20 Nicolas Lapentti, who beat Adrian Voinea, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

No. 2 Venus Williams, seeking her fourth title in the event, became the first semifinalist by rallying past No. 12 Elena Dementieva, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Williams won despite blowing a 3-0 lead in the first set and committing 48 unforced errors and 10 double faults.

“I never really felt that I was going to lose,” Williams said. “Theoretically, I should have won the first set.”

Williams’ next opponent will be the winner of the quarterfinal today between her sister Serena and two-time champion Martina Hingis. That match was postponed Tuesday night because of rain.

“Personally, I hope a Williams wins,” Venus said. “But win, lose or draw, I still love her.”

A sibling showdown would be the first between the sisters since Venus beat Serena in the U.S. Open final in September.

By beating Dementieva, Venus extended her winning streak on Key Biscayne to 22 matches. She missed the 2000 event because of injury but won titles in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

“I guess I’ve just picked one tournament that I’m going to win always,” she said with a laugh. “It just happens to be this one.”

Two men’s fourth-round matches ended with injuries on a sunny, humid, 85-degree afternoon. No. 5 Tim Henman retired because of a stiff neck, trailing No. 12 Roger Federer, 6-2. Gaston Gaudio quit with severe cramping, trailing Juan Ignacio Chela, 6-1, 5-7, 4-3.

Henman hurt his neck when he collided with a stranger going through a doorway Monday.

“I can’t really look up,” Henman said. “So that rules out serving.”

Chela’s quarterfinal opponent will be 1998 champion Marcelo Rios, who beat No. 16 Alex Corretja, 6-2, 6-2.

Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt led American James Blake, 6-4, 3-1, when their match was suspended until today because of rain.

The weather was sweltering when Agassi and Johansson took the court. Agassi, progressively more confident in his groundstrokes, broke serve for a 6-5 lead and served out the set.

In the opening game of the second set, Agassi came up with the shot of the match to break again. He chased down a Johansson volley to angle a running forehand crosscourt for a winner.

“That was a beauty,” Agassi said. “Sometimes those shots happen.”

Agassi controlled the baseline rallies by keeping Johansson off balance and showed unusual snap with his serve, belting eight aces, including one at 120 mph.

Agassi is playing for the 16th consecutive year at Key Biscayne, where he won titles in 1990, 1995, 1996 and 2001.