Agassi prevails as Mathieu stumbles with victory in sight

There sometimes comes a point in a contest between youth and experience where the younger competitor seems more frightened of winning than his opponent is frightened of losing.

It happened here yesterday to Paul-Henri Mathieu, a 20-year-old wild card from Strasbourg, who was twice within sight of an improbable victory against Andre Agassi in the fourth round of the French Open.

Agassi prevailed, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, after three hours, and will play Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain, in the quarter-finals. Ferrero, the 11th seed, had problems of his own in defeating Gaston Gaudio, of Argentina, 6-7, 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

It was the fourth time Agassi has won a match from two sets to love down, the last occasion being his triumph here against Andrei Medvedev in the 1999 final. Having caught the 32-year-old Las Vegan on a day when his erratic, often desperate shot-making made him look anything but a winner of all four Grand Slam singles titles, Mathieu was bold enough to win the first two sets and break serve in the opening game of the third. All this took place within 90 minutes, not including a 15-minute rain delay at the end of the second set.

However, in the fourth game, Agassi got a foot in the match. Mathieu, suddenly forced to defend his serve with a degree of urgency, lost the zip of his first delivery, and the kick of his second. In this tentative mode, he managed to fend off four break points, but was lured into netting a backhand on the fifth.

Agassi broke a second time, for 4-2. Mathieu, it seemed, was no longer the bouncy risk-taker whose backhand had earlier made Agassi look ordinary. The American fourth seed went on to secure the set and then won the first five games of the fourth.

Had Agassi held serve and rode out the set, Mathieu's challenge would probably have been spent. But he was able to break twice before Agassi levelled the match, and the spectators, encouraged by Mathieu's mini-recovery roared in anticipation of a fight to the finish.

Mathieu broke for 2-1 in the fifth set (hitting a forehand into the corner after Agassi double-faulted to 30-40) held for 3-1, and had two break points for 4-1. Tantalisingly close to a day of glory, Mathieu was unable to press his advantage. Agassi saved the first break point with a smash and the second with a potent second serve.

From that moment, Mathieu's confidence drained. Agassi held for 3-3 and again for 4-3, as his opponent hit a forehand wide at 40-15. The Frenchman won only one point in the concluding two games.

"I was pretty lucky to get through," Agassi admitted. "I certainly dug a big hole for myself. A lot had to do with the way he was playing. I just didn't have any rhythm. But, down two sets and a break, the good news is it can't get any worse."

Having tried several ploys to stop Mathieu working the baseline like a pendulum, Agassi had a good deal of success with the drop-shot, although one or two hit the net. "You can be assured if I'm hitting a lot of drop-shots, there's not a lot feeling great out there," he said with a wry smile. "A lot has to go awry to feel that's something to throw into the equation."

Mathieu, who has spent time at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, from where Agassi was launched to greatness, said he only thought he would win "when Agassi was having problems". Leading by two sets and a break, he said to himself, "If it continues this way, I'm going to win. Then I had a letdown. I was able to come back in the fifth set, but I had Agassi across the net. He's used to playing in that kind of situation. He took the points when it was necessary."

He added that he would not dwell on the two break points at 4-1 in the fifth. "He played great shots on those points. I give him credit. I mean, it's Agassi. This is not somebody else."

Sebastien Grosjean, of France, advanced to the last eight with a 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 win over Xavier Malisse, of Belgium. Grosjean will play Marat Safin, the second seed, who defeated Arnaud Di Pasquale, of France, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

In the junior singles event, Alex Bogdanovic is due to play the French prospect Richard Gasquet in third round. They are level, 3-3, in previous contests.