Agassi kicks himself after losing

Andre Agassi said he is "kicking himself" after squandering a 5-3 fifth set lead to lose his Wimbledon semifinal to Pat Rafter on Friday.

"I am disappointed I let an opportunity go by," the 1992 champion said.

"It is for others to judge the quality of that match," he said of the thrilling Centre Court encounter. "I thought it was very disappointing... right now I am kicking myself."

Agassi lost to Rafter in last year's semifinal - also in a five-set clash - but said this year was more disappointing.

"The closer you get to winning the harder it is to accept not winning," he said. "Last year he won the fifth set decisively and this year I had chances so, yeah, it is more disappointing."

Agassi served for the match at 5-4 in the deciding set but allowed himself to be broken for 5-5.

Four games later Rafter broke him again for a two hours 59 minute victory.

"I had so many opportunities but you know on some points he was just too good," Agassi said.

"At the end of the day he played better at the most important moments.

"He deserves to be in the final, that's for sure," he added.

Rafter will play either British sixth seed Tim Henman or three-times finalist Goran Ivanisevic in Sunday's final, and Agassi favours his conqueror.

"If Pat's physically fit I would favour him... but anything can happen on the day," he said.

"You always enjoy Wimbledon but right now it is hard to enjoy anything... you've got to just shake it off and move on."