Safin, Agassi through to Masters semis

Marat Safin, just one match away from ending the year ranked number one, moved into the semifinals of the $3.7 million Masters Cup Thursday without striking a ball all day.

The complicated formula used by the season-ending tournament's organizers meant Alex Corretja's round robin red group victory over Lleyton Hewitt put Russian Safin into the last four.

But Corretja could do nothing to save himself. The Spaniard was eliminated from the round robin red group despite his 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 victory.

Safin was joined in the last four by Andre Agassi who qualified from the round robin green group thanks to Gustavo Kuerten's late-night victory over Magnus Norman.

The Brazilian beat Norman 7-5, 6-3, a result which eliminated Norman.

Kuerten will qualify for Saturday's semifinals if he can beat Kafelnikov Friday. If he loses, the Russian goes through.

Wait For Hewitt

Hewitt must now wait until Pete Sampras plays Safin on Friday to find out if he or Sampras joins the Russian in the last four.

If Sampras wins he qualifies, if he loses Hewitt automatically qualifies.

It was the Australian who exploded out of the blocks in his final group match at Lisbon's Atlantic Pavilion and he took the opening set with two breaks of serve.

But Corretja fought back in what was a rehearsal for next week's Davis Cup final and leveled on a tie-break.

The Spaniard raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider before easing off the accelerator. He allowed Hewitt a break back but closed out comfortably for a morale-boosting victory.

Agassi earlier tore past Kafelnikov 6-1 6-4 before issuing a warning to the other top seven players in the world taking part here.

``I really felt that my game started firing on all cylinders today,'' Agassi said. ``It has been a while since that happened. Things are going well.''

Clash Of Champions

The American's victory leaves him with two wins from two matches in the round robin green group. He beat Kuerten on Tuesday. Kafelnikov beat Norman Wednesday and is 1-1.

Agassi started this clash of two Olympic gold medallists in storming fashion, sending Kafelnikov -- playing his 100th singles match of the year -- scuttling from side to side of the court.

The shaven-headed American, gold medallist in Atlanta '96, broke Sydney 2000 winner Kafelnikov in the second and sixth games before serving out the opening set 6-1 in only 21 minutes with an ace.

The last time these two had met was the final of the Australian Open at the start of the year and that was the last time Agassi had produced such sublime tennis, taking the title in four sets.

He was irresistible again in the Portuguese capital and broke the Russian's serve at the first time of asking in the second set. Kafelnikov never recovered and Agassi wrapped things up 6-4 after 66 minutes.

``I felt very solid...much better. But to win here you've got to play like that every day against everybody,'' he said.

``All the guys here know how to win, how to make the most of your mistakes, how to find your weaknesses.''