Safin too strong for Agassi

After three hours and six minutes of remarkable tennis, the battling Agassi had rallied from two sets down to force a decider.

The American had not dropped a set in Melbourne since his fourthround victory over Nicolas Escude last year, but today he lost the opening two sets of this incredible match by tie-breaks.

Safin then suffered a lapse in concentration to lose the next two sets. The Russian's mind wondered and, resigned to a decider, he conserved energy as Agassi strung together five games to take the fourth set 6-1 and level the match. However, the force was not with the 1992 Wimbledon champion and Safin saw out the deciding set 6-3.

Meanwhile, Kim Clijsters will face her Grand Slam nemesis Justine Henin-Hardenne in the final of the Australian Open after both Belgians won in Melbourne today.

Clijsters, the world No2, is still without a major title after losing to Henin-Hardenne, the only player above her in the rankings, in the final at both the French and US Opens last year.

On Saturday, 'Aussie Kim' will have the chance to wreak her revenge after burying concerns over her injured ankle to beat 22nd seed Patty Schnyder 6-2, 7-6.

Her victory, under the closed roof of the Rod Laver Arena, followed a far more straightforward display from Henin-Hardenne, who beat 32nd seed Fabiola Zuluaga 6-2, 6-2.

Both Clijsters and Henin-Hardenne will be competing in their first Australian Open final.

"I hope I have learned from those losses - hopefully third-time lucky," said Clijsters.

"It started when we were playing under-10s in Belgium," She added.

"We've grown up together and it is incredible to have two players like us come through at such a young age."