Agassi extended to three sets by young Spaniard

<br>MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Ole, Andre! <br><br>Andre Agassi blew a second-set match point, but came back to tame young Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in a three-set thriller Thursday to gain the quarterfinals

Friday, October 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Ole, Andre!

Andre Agassi blew a second-set match point, but came back to tame young Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in a three-set thriller Thursday to gain the quarterfinals at the inaugural Madrid Masters.

The American, seeded second in Spain's biggest tennis tournament ever, won 7-6 (6), 6-7 (8), 7-5 before a rockin' Rockodromo center-court crowd at the Pabellon de Cristal.

``It was a great atmosphere,'' said Agassi. ``Someone had to lose. He's a very talented player and I look forward to playing him again.

``I had not seen him before, but I expected big serves and forehands. I was pretty well prepared. He will only get better. He has a good future.''

Next up for Agassi will be another member of the ``Spanish Armada:'' French Open finalist Juan Carlos Ferrero, who lost only one game in the last two sets as he rallied to beat veteran Alex Corretja 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 in an all-Spanish center-court duel.

Agassi had his first match point in the second-set tiebreak, but his return went wide. Later, Agassi saved a set point with an ace. But lanky Lopez, the only lefty left in the tournament, finally won it on his second set point when Agassi's forehand sailed wide.

Agassi got the break he needed in the 11th game of the decisive set, breaking Lopez' serve to love to lead 6-5. It was the only service break of the match.

``A match like this is unique,'' Agassi said. ``It's very rare to play that long (2 hours, 23 minutes) with only one service break.''

Lopez, who's only 21, silenced the near-sellout crowd of 9,500 by making two double-faults in that game.

Carlos Moya blew a one-set lead and a match point in the third set before his home fans, losing to No. 11 seed Jiri Novak in another third-round match.

The Czech's 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-5 win moved him ahead of Albert Costa, another Spanish player, and into eighth place in the ATP Champions' Race. Six berths remain for the season-ending Masters Cup next month in Shanghai.

Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, who is not playing here because of illness, and Agassi have already qualified.

Moya, winner of four titles this season and tied with Agassi and Hewitt for most tournament wins, moved to match point with Novak serving and trailing 5-4 in the third set.

But Moya couldn't convert his golden chance, missing a backhand. Novak fought back to deuce, held to 5-5 and then broke Moya's serve to lead 6-5 before wrapping up the quarterfinal berth.

``Well, I didn't only miss this backhand,'' Moya said. ``I was a bit conservative before that. I should have attacked more. But what can I do? I gave 100 percent. I think I should have won.''

With so many seeds falling early in the US$2.9 million event, Novak could be a surprise entrant in Shanghai. Moya is tied for fifth place with Tim Henman, who lost Wednesday.

``I'm No. 5 and the other ones have to win a lot of matches to overtake my position,'' Moya said. ``I would have liked to have made sure in this tournament that I was going to Shanghai. But today I lost. I've made things complicated for myself too much.''

Earlier, Paradorn Srichaphan continued his winning ways, beating Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Novak.

The 23-year-old Thai sensation, who upset former world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten and fourth-seed Tim Henman in earlier rounds, made it to the last eight for the seventh time this year.

Paradorn won his first ATP title at Long Island, New York, before the U.S. Open and also reached the semifinals in Washington D.C. and Chennai.

Agustin Calleri and Fabrice Santoro, two other unseeded players, also advanced to the quarters during the afternoon session.

Calleri, a qualifier who stunned third-seed Marat Safin in the second round, ousted Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson 6-4, 6-4. The loss will hurt the 15-seeded Swede's chances of qualifying for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai next month.

Calleri's next opponent will be No. 7 seed Sebastien Grosjean, who topped Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (2), 6-1. Santoro had one of the easiest matches of the tournament so far, losing only two games en route to a lopsided 6-0, 6-2 win over Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian.

Santoro will next meet No. 12 seed Roger Federer, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Nicolas Lapentti.

Nine of the 16 seeded players were eliminated before Thursday's third round.