New York: Andre Agassi kept his US Open campaign alive and staved off retirement with a stunning 6-4 6-4 3-6 5-7 7-5 victory over a stubborn Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to reach the third round on Thursday.
Set to end his illustrious career after this 21st successive trip to the Open, Agassi extended his run by closing out an extraordinary fifth set against a cramping Baghdatis with a service break to finish the three-hour 48-minute contest.
The 36-year-old squandered a 4-0 lead in the fourth set as the 21-year-old eighth seed slugged his way back with three service breaks to force a deciding set, pounding his chest and roaring to fire himself up.
"I got up two sets to none but he raised his game," Agassi, who needed an injection for an injured back after his first round win over Andrei Pavel, told the packed crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium in an on-court interview.
"I got a 4-0 lead in the fourth set. It wasn't my back getting tight. It was my throat and my breathing.
"To see somebody struggle so much physically is not a way for such a high level of tennis to end," he said to the roaring crowd. This means the world to me."
Baghdatis, an Australian Open finalist and Wimbledon semi-finalist this year, was gracious in defeat. "I'm okay. Tough match. I fought for it," he said.
"He plays great tennis even if he's 36. I want to wish Andre good luck, not only for this tournament but for his life. He has given so much to this sport."
"Whatever you say, he's a legend. He's more than a legend. I want to congratulate him for his career."
Baghdatis, who called out the trainer in the opening set to treat a sore left wrist after sprawling to the ground, used up his allocated one injury time-out per set early in the decider when he was rubbed down for a left thigh strain.
With the set tied 4-4, the Cypriot buckled in pain and began hopping on one leg before crumpling to the ground with cramping in his right leg during a marathon ninth game that went to seven deuces before Agassi held to lead 5-4.
Flexing his legs and in obvious pain, Baghdatis somehow stayed in the match, firing in big serves and trading groundstroke blows with Agassi like a pair of weary boxers at the end of a classic bout.
The Cypriot held serve in the next game, fighting off one match point with a service winner.
Agassi then held and finally broke Baghdatis for the victory after reaching deuce thanks to two double faults when the eighth seed sailed a backhand long.
The eight-times grand slam winner and double US champion will next play 112th-ranked German qualifier Benjamin Becker, a straight-sets winner over 30th seed Sebastien Grosjean of France.
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