Roddick eliminated at Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Russian Marat Safin rallied from a first-set loss Tuesday and knocked top-ranked Andy Roddick out of the Australian Open.

Safin beat the American 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (0-7), 6-4 and will play 33-year-old Andre Agassi of the United States in the semifinals.

Roddick broke Safin three times to win the opening set, but Safin, celebrating his 24th birthday, came back to win after getting crucial break in the decisive set.

Earlier, Agassi, the fourth seed and defending champion, advanced after an injury forced his opponent, Sebastien Grosjean of France, to withdraw.

"There was still a lot of tennis left so it's just unfortunate it ended that way," Agassi said.

On the women's side, world No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne rallied from two breaks down in the opening set to defeat fifth-seed Lindsay Davenport of the United States 7-5, 6-3.

It was Henin-Hardenne's second win in a row over Davenport after dropping their first five meetings.

"I lost many times against Lindsay, but I'm a different player right now with much more confidence," Henin-Hardenne said.

The 21-year-old Belgian will appear in her fifth straight Grand Slam semifinal.