Andre Agassi pummelled a patched-up Guillermo Coria 6-4 6-3 7-5 today to reach his ninth US Open semi-final.
Coria, suffering from a left hamstring injury and with blood pouring from a cut thumb, struggled with his movement for most of the contest as the top seed and world number one ran him from side to side under blue Flushing Meadows skies.
The 33-year-old American, beaten by Coria at the French Open earlier this year, clinched the opening set with measured rallying as the Argentine's form dipped momentarily. Fifth-seeded Coria hung in the second set until, while serving at 4-3, he was broken again.
The Argentine fought off two break points but cracked on the third when he chased a drop shot down but floated his response beyond the baseline.
Hitting with great authority, Agassi served out to take a two-set lead when a weary-looking Coria netted an attempted drop shot. A slice of luck with a line call gave Agassi a break point in the fifth game of the third set which he duly converted to nose ahead. He kept in front but, serving at 5-4 for the match, he faltered.
Agassi blew four match points and allowed the Argentine to break him for 5-5.
A comeback by a fully-fit Coria would have been a lot to ask. Nursing an injury, it was an impossibility.
Agassi pounced on the 21-year-old's delivery in the next game to allow him to serve for the match a second time and he made no mistake.
The twice champion and runner-up last year will next face either 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt or French Open holder Juan Carlos Ferrero in the last four.