Agassi enters LA semi-final

Top seed Andre Agassi [Images] powered into the semi-finals of the Los Angeles Open with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win over Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan [Images] on Friday.

Agassi, 35, back in action for the first time since the French Open two months ago, moved within two victories of his fourth title here.

Agassi, who won this title in 1998, 2001 and 2002 and also lost in the final in 1988 and 1999, now plays Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela who defeated Belgian Xavier Malisse 6-4, 7-6.

"I've played Chela a couple of times, He's dangerous," said Agassi, 2-0 against the Argentine. "His backhand is under-rated but he can be streaky with his serve.

"Today was a good step for me to play a guy who can hit as big a ball as Paradorn, that will get me ready for Chela."

Second seed Dominik Hrbaty, the 26th-ranked Slovak, dodged an upset bid from Brazil's [Images] Ricardo Mello 4-6, 7-6 (9), 6-2.

The second seed saved seven match points in the second-set tie-break to survive; he swept through the third as the South American threat evaporated after a meltdown from 6-1 in the tie-break.

"My game went up after the first set," said Hrbaty, a three-time winner in 2004 who reached his first semi-final of 2005. "He had some lucky shots but after the tie-breaker I tried not to lose concentration and just finish the match."

Hrbaty will play Luxembourg's Gilles Muller, a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 winner over last week's Indianapolis champion Robby Ginepri.

Eight-times Grand Slam champion Agassi, who has been sidelined with a nagging hip injury, broke serve twice in the opening set against Paradorn and gained another break to lead 2-1 in the second.

But the world number 44 Thai broke back in the sixth game and went on to level the match when Agassi double-faulted.

The American regained the initiative early in the third set before clinching victory on his fifth match point.

"It felt good," Agassi told reporters. "It's been hard the last eight weeks to be sitting around watching the biggest tournaments in the world pass you by.

"I've got three wins under my belt [this week]. I didn't know what to expect but each match has gotten better ... it feels really good."

Agassi, with 59 career trophies, had a minimal six days of practise after staying off court since losing two months ago in the first round at the French Open.

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