The semifinal round has been set for both the men's and women's draw at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. An upset and a huge battle Thursday between young stars decided the final berths among the men.
Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov is among the final four at the U.S. Open, after the tournament's seventh seed ousted top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3.
Kafelnikov says he was able to gain confidence against Kuerten as the match progressed. "I was very nervous inside," he said. "I knew how important a major [tournament] is for me. I just did not want to have previous experience happen to that match like it did three times in the French Open, where I am having the match in my hand, and not able to close out. Today was a different story."
The 27-year-old Kafelnikov will next face 20-year-old Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who survived a grueling three-hour-40-minute match against American teenager Andy Roddick, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
Thanks to his thrilling victory over Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras is also in the semifinals, where he will play defending champion Marat Safin of Russia. The women's semis are all set for Friday, when top-seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland plays American Serena Williams. Defending women's champion Venus Williams takes on fellow American Jennifer Capriati for a berth in the finals.