Agassi, Rios to clash in Miami semifinals

Defending champion Andre Agassi continued his steady march towards a record fifth Nasdaq-100 Open Masters title with a 6-3 7-5 quarter-final win over Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti on Wednesday.

Next up for the American is another fiery Latin, Chile's Marcelo Rios, who advanced with an impressive 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 victory over Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela.

Their quarter-final, played on a steamy Miami night, had an atmosphere more akin to a South American soccer game than a tennis match as supporters of the players sang, chanted and waved flags.

But it was Rios, displaying some of the dazzling form that carried him briefly to the world number one ranking in 1998, who came out on top.

"I'm looking forward to it," said ninth seed Agassi, who has met Rios twice, losing both times including the 1998 Miami Masters final.

"This is where we played in the finals and I have strong memories of that. He seems like he's playing a lot better now and that's good.

"He certainly has a lot of talent but I feel ready. I really don't know what to expect. He strikes the ball as well as anybody."

After losing his opening match at the Indian Wells Masters last week, Agassi has been in sublime form on the Miami hardcourts, easing his way into the semifinals without dropping a set.

After taking the first set, Agassi twice broke the 20th seed from Ecuador in the second and looked in control.

HARD-FOUGHT

Lapentti broke back both times, but when Agassi broke a third time to go 6-5 in front he could not respond.

"He constantly has you having to adjust," said the American. "I managed to close it out but it was hard-fought all the way."

Sixth seed Marat Safin of Russia booked his place in the quarter-finals with the minimum of fuss, easing past Chilean qualifier Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 6-3 to set up a meeting with world number one Lleyton Hewitt.

Hewitt needed two days to book his place in the last eight, finally finishing off American James Blake 6-4 6-1 in a rain-interrupted match on Wednesday.

Unbeaten on American soil since winning the U.S. Open last year, Hewitt was well on his way to extending the streak to 21 matches when torrential rain stopped the match late Tuesday afternoon with the Australian leading 6-4 3-1.

Picking up where he left off, Hewitt quickly went to work under a sizzling Miami sun, breaking Blake to go 4-1 ahead and then taking the last two games.

"It's always tough for both players," said Hewitt. "But you'd rather be a set and a break up than a set and a break down going overnight.

"But I came out and felt like I got better and better as the match went on."

The contest was a replay of the contentious U.S. Open second round match when Hewitt was accused of making racist remarks after disputing a line call against the African-American.

The match unfolded without incident, Hewitt and Blake shaking hands as they walked off court.