Nadal, Agassi onto Semis
Rafael Nadal won his 15th consecutive match and advanced to his third consecutive ATP Masters Series semifinal of the year at the Telecom Italia Masters Roma on Friday. The No. 5 seed defeated Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. Nadal next faces countryman David Ferrer for the second time in a Masters Series semifinal. Nadal won their last encounter in Miami. Ferrer advanced earlier today by outgrinding compatriot Alberto Martin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 19 minutes.
Meanwhile, Andre Agassi reached his third career semifinal in Rome (1989, 2002), defeating Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-3. The 2002 champion will face the winner of No. 9 seed Guillermo Coria and Fernando Verdasco who ousted No. 1 seed Andy Roddick yesterday.