SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 9 (UPI) -- Andre Agassi moved within a win of his 50th career ATP title Saturday.
The top-seeded Agassi got past No. 7 Xavier Malisse of Belgium, 6-4, 6-4, to reach his second final in as many weeks at the Franklin Templeton Classic.
In the championship match, Agassi will meet the winner of Saturday night's semifinal between Spain's Juan Balcells and Germany's Rainer Schuettler.
The 31-year-old Agassi claimed four titles in 2001, increasing his career total to 49. But the Las Vegas native had not competed on tour since the Tennis Masters Cup before entering last week's event. He was sidelined for the year's first Grand Slam -- the Australian Open -- with a wrist injury.
A three-time winner at Scottsdale, Agassi wasted two match points last Sunday and suffered a loss at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt in the Siebel Open hardcourt final in San Jose.
"No question this has been a couple of great weeks for me and this is good going into the next two big tournaments (Indian Wells and Miami)," Agassi said. "I'm going to be up for it and my game is starting to come around. This is a big step for me and to take my game to the next level with these big tournaments coming up."
Juan Balcells reached his first ATP semifinal since the Mallorca claycourt event in May with a three-set triumph over Israel's Noam Okun.
The 26-year-old Balcells was 0-5 this season before upsetting fourth seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina in the opening round to spark his run.
