MADRID, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Moving closer to the top spot in the ATP Champions Race, second-seeded American Andre Agassi will face 11th seed Jiri Novak in Sunday's final of the $2.33 million Tennis Masters Series - Madrid.
Agassi posted a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over seventh-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in the semifinals Saturday and will try to become the first player to win five titles this season.
While Grosjean had a 19-4 advantage in aces, Agassi used his potent forehand for a 32-16 lead in return points.
In his first tournament since losing the final of the U.S. Open to Pete Sampras, Agassi used that dominant return on match point as he ripped a crosscourt winner past Grosjean.
The 32-year-old Agassi has reached at least the quarterfinals in 11 of 13 events this year and a win Sunday will give him 654 points. Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who did not enter this tournament, leads with 697 points. The top eight players in the points race qualify for the Tennis Masters Series Cup in Shanghai in November.
Agassi's 14 Tennis Masters Series titles are the most ever, including this year's wins at Miami and Rome.
Novak, a 27-year-old Czech, cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over French qualifier Fabrice Santoro in Saturday's other semifinal.
Seeking his first title of the year, Novak is fifth in the points standings with 446. A win over Agassi will vault him into third place with 476 points. It also would be a first as Novak has not claimed a set in four career matches with Agassi.
