Agassi felled by giant Safin

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -- Russian giant Marat Safin shattered Andre Agassi's dream of a fifth Australian Open title on Thursday, wearing down the American 7-6 7-6 5-7 1-6 6-3 to reach his second final at Melbourne Park.

Agassi, who had won 26 straight matches at Melbourne Park in an unbeaten run stretching back to 1999, was left chasing shadows as Safin had the edge in power, precision and intensity for much of a draining semi-final.

Safin had beaten four Americans on his way to the last four, celebrating his 24th birthday on Tuesday with a pulsating victory over top seed Andy Roddick.

Agassi became his fifth U.S. victim after an astonishing fifth-set meltdown.

Former world number one Safin had looked dead on his feet after Agassi hit back from two sets down, taking the fourth set for the loss of just 14 points.

However, Safin found extra reserves of energy in the final set, forcing Agassi into a wild forehand to break for 3-1.

Screaming at himself in Russian as his legs threatened to give way, Safin held his nerve and finally wrapped up proceedings on his first match point with a pummelling backhand pass after three hours 42 minutes.

"I don't have words to describe how I feel right now. I'm barely standings now," said an exhausted Safin, runner-up here two years ago.

"Andre Agassi is a hell of a player. I don't know how I beat him in five sets. I played the biggest match of my whole life. I came here to win it and now I'm almost there, just one left to go."

THUNDERING ACE

Safin, who has slumped to 86th in the world after an injury-plagued 2003, took the first-set tiebreak 8-6 with a thundering ace down the middle to rattle Agassi.

A chest-thumping Safin again proved stronger on the crunch points in the second-set tiebreak, pouncing on the first chance that came his way with another big backhand to clinch it 8-6.

Agassi won the Australian Open in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003, missing the tournament in 2002 with a wrist injury.

Drenched in sweat, the fourth seed made a desperate stand in the third set, taking it 7-5 with sizzling return before steamrolling through the fourth.

But he came up just short against the 2000 U.S. Open champion, who served 33 aces and hit 79 winners to Agassi's 44.

"Marat played at an incredibly high level and he came up with a lot of great shots when he needed to," said a dejected Agassi.

"I had chances in the first two sets, sort of slipped away. You know that's a big hole, two sets to love down. Tonight, I never quite got over that hump."

Safin, seeking to become the first unseeded champion since Mark Edmondson in 1976, will play either world number two Roger Federer or Juan Carlos Ferrero in Sunday's final.

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