Agassi to progress and please crowds

Television executives, the media, sponsors and not least the Parisian crowd desperately hope that Andre Agassi reaches the final of the French Open. The Las Vegas showman is perhaps the last great entertainer in men's tennis and his presence at Roland Garros on Sunday would enhance the colour of the occasion.

Contemplating a final without Agassi is not a pleasant prospect. It is not in the least disrespectful to Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty, who must be overcome if the American is to reach the final. Hrbaty's achievement in reaching today's semi-final and the quality of tennis he produced in the process is every bit as admirable as that of any of the four players through to the penultimate stage.

However, in a championship when the seeds have been scuttled with alarming regularity, the organisers and the public crave star quality for the denouement: Agassi alone can provide that amongst those left in the tournament. Brazilian Fernando Meligeni and Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev meet in the other semi-final and few outside the respective camps care who prevails.

That may seem harsh, particularly in the case of Medvedev, a player of great promise a few seasons ago who has finally put mental and physical aberrations behind him. The Ukrainian certainly boasts the game to win the championships and make a mockery of his currently world ranking (100) as he demonstrated in his remarkably easy victory over pre-tournament favourite Gustavo Kuerten.

Today he faces another Brazilian in Meligeni, nicknamed `Fino' (thin), who has already put out number three seed Pat Rafter, Felix Mantilla (14) and Alex Corretja (6). Superbly athletic, Meligeni he will need that physical endurance against the powerful and intelligent groundstrokes of Medvedev.

The Ukrainian appears better equipped, and certainly a repeat of the performance against Kuerten would guarantee him a place in the final.

Hrbaty will be praying that the stormy conditions of recent days are replaced by the clement weather of the first 10 days, primarily because of his ball toss. His is arguably the highest on the tour, and any wind would cause him severe problems.

Hrbaty's serve has been a feature of his success, so to be denied any potency in this respect would be discouraging. Agassi has demonstrated a return to the form that once made him the number one player in the world, confident, authoritative and clouting his groundstrokes with customary venom. He certainly possesses a level that none of the other three can broach, with the possible exception of Medvedev.

Agassi wants to complete his Grand Slam haul, having captured the other three. He should take the next step against Hrbaty.