Agassi moves on in five sets

NEW YORK -- Andre Agassi was a 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-2 winner on Monday over Xavier Malisse, making the 35-year-old American the oldest U.S. Open men's quarterfinalist since Jimmy Connors' legendary run at 39 to the semis in 1991.

Age and balky back aside, Agassi suddenly is looking like a serious contender to go at least as far as Connors did that year. At No. 7, he's the highest seeded player in the bottom half of the draw. He next faces fellow American James Blake, a wild card who came back from injury and illness to knock off No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the third round and beat No. 19 Tommy Robredo in the fourth, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

"He's always been a real dangerous player," Agassi said of the 25-year-old Blake, who beat him en route to his first tour title in Washington three years ago but has lost three of their four meetings, the last in 2003. Blake won his second title in New Haven two weeks ago.

Agassi still has the legs, the will and the game to beat anyone. He had enough left to drill three straight aces -- two at 120-plus mph -- and a service winner in his final serves against Malisse.

Age didn't hamper Mary Pierce or Lindsay Davenport, the two oldest women left in the tournament.

In a reversal of the French Open final, the 30-year-old Pierce upset No. 7 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarters here for the first time since 1999 and only the second time in 13 trips to the U.S. Open. Pierce, seeded No. 12, had never won a set in four matches against the Belgian on clay, grass and hard courts.

The 29-year-old Davenport, the 1998 champion, won 6-0, 6-3 romp over France's Nathalie Dechy. Davenport next plays sixth-seeded Elena Dementieva, last year's runner-up, who beat No. 11 Patty Schnyder in straight sets. No. 3 Amelie Mauresmo beat No. 19 Elena Likhovtseva, also in straight sets, and will play Pierce.