That 30's show

Andre Agassi has made a mockery of his advancing years and reduced his younger rivals to gasping wrecks on his relentless charge to a fourth Australian Open title.

The remarkable 32-year-old American looks a class apart from the others here, even more so with the early exit of world number one Lleyton Hewitt, and he is just one match away from his fourth Australian Open final.

He mauled French number one Sebastien Grosjean in his quarterfinal and now another thirtysomething blocks his way to final.

South African journeyman Wayne Ferreira is back in the semifinals, 11 years after playing Stefan Edberg in the last four here, and the man charged with stopping Agassi from reaching Sunday's final.

The stats make gloomy reading for 31-year-old Ferreira's chances of derailing the ebullient Agassi in Thursday's semifinal.

Ten times they've played over eight years and 10 times Ferreira has lost.

But he is taking the positive approach and believes he has worked on a weakness that shrewd Agassi has capitalised on.

"I just haven't played that well (against Agassi)," said Ferreira on Wednesday.

"Most of the time I've played him, it's been in situations like this where he's ended up winning the tournaments and playing great tennis.

"This week he's basically steamrolled through everyone and he is playing great tennis."

Ferreira knows what to expect against the super-fit Agassi, who thrives in the Australian conditions on the Rebound Ace hardcourt.

"It's tough to get any rhythm (against him). You end up running a lot."

But Ferreira offers hope for his chances of a monumental upset.

"I do feel that I have improved my backhand considerably. I'm taking it a lot earlier and I'm more aggressive on it. I'm missing a lot less.

"That's always been a very big factor against him, he's absolutely dominated me on the backhand side and has given me no opportunities to hit any forehands."

Ferreira said if he can utilise his backhand as he did in dispatching Spanish fourth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in Tuesday's quarter-final, then he might be able to stay in the point longer and be more competitive against Agassi.

Agassi has spruced up his chal lenge to become only the fourth man to win four Australian titles by making a bet with his wife and 22 singles Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf to partner her in the mixed doubles at the French Open in June, if he wins the final here.

Agassi is looking at his eighth Grand Slam title and extended his unconquered run at the Australian Open to 19 matches after withdrawing on the opening morning of last year's tournament with a wrist injury.

His last defeat in Melbourne came in the fourth round of the 1999 Open to fellow American Vince Spadea in four sets.

Agassi prides himself on his fitness coming into the new season and takes great satisfaction in winning the physical and mental battles against his years younger rivals.

"I want to make someone work hard for every point. I want to make my opponent play something special to beat me," Agassi said.

"Tennis is a very physical sport. This one particular tournament is more difficult physically to play because of the conditions and also the court.

"You dig into the court. It's not easy to move, you stick, it's more sort of trauma on your muscles when you change directions.

"So there is an opportunity for one to get tired out there, but somebody getting tired against me is really only a function of me working hard myself.'

"And you hope that they're working harder than you."