Agassi, Safin to meet in semifinals

MADRID, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Andre Agassi and Marat Safin won their quarterfinal matches at the Madrid Masters Friday, setting up a semifinal showdown.

Agassi dropped a first-set tiebreak against Tommy Robredo before rebounding for a 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2 victory. Agassi is making his first appearance since the U.S. Open.

Safin advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Luis Horna. Agassi has won three of his five meetings with Safin, but in their only confrontation this year, Safin won in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals.

The other semifinal Saturday will send David Nalbandian against Ivan Ljubicic.

Nalbandian defeated Taylor Dent, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, while Ljubicic won over Joachim Johansson, 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (1-7), 7-6 (7-3).