Despite the fact that two of the tournament?s stars, Andy Roddick and Roger Federer, were in action in the stadium this afternoon, the crowd was disappointing, perhaps two-thirds or three-quarters capacity. The Friday evening session, headlined by Andre Agassi, pulled the fans in. But what they saw probably surprised them?

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(8)Rainer Schuettler def. (1)Andre Agassi, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Agassi leads 2-0

These two last met in the Australian Open final, where Rainer Schuettler (pictured at right) was completely outclassed by Andre Agassi. But tonight was a different story. Schuettler turned the tide after a poor start to stun both the top seed and the large stadium crowd on a warm, clear evening.

As the match began, it looked like the Australian Open final all over again. Schuettler committed a series of errors to lose his first two service games. Needless to say, this was not in the plan. ?When I went out there,? commented Schuettler, ?I said, ?Okay, just try to hold your first service game.? In three minutes I was 0-1 down. So my plan didn?t work pretty well,? he chuckled.

While Agassi did hand one of the breaks back, Schuettler continued to struggle on his own serve. He was giving Andre too many weak second serves to look at (a first serve percentage of just 50% in the first set). The American made him pay, breaking Schuettler again to go up 5-2. The black-clad Agassi needed three set points, but finally claimed the 6-2 first set on Schuettler?s 14th unforced error. ?I was trying to hit harder than him,? commented Schuettler after the match. ?But he was playing too fast for me.?

Schuettler began the second set in a determined fashion, keeping the errors down and nailing a series of down-the-line winners when presented with openings. Meanwhile Agassi was making more errors. He was having difficulty getting balls past the speedy German, and appeared at times to be moving poorly (the press box has been abuzz with hip injury rumours, more on that later?).

Trailing 2-5, the Kid from Las Vegas decided he could do without his white cap. At 30-30, a spectacular point: Agassi unleashes one of his patented baseline overheads, Schuettler somehow gets it back, Agassi has a chance to put a volley away but Schuettler runs it down, then Agassi dumps a forehand volley into the net! Set point Schuettler, and the German wins it with a slashing crosscourt backhand pass. The match is level, and Schuettler had finally won a set from Agassi for the first time in three encou nters.

The story of the second set was Schuettler?s cleaner play -- just 4 unforced errors, 10 less than in the first set. ?In the second set I was trying to rally with him and he made a few mistakes on important points.?

Agassi thought it best to put that cap back on for the decisive set. In a three-deuce second game Schuettler did well to save three break points. At 2-3, it is Agassi?s turn to be in trouble on serve. At 15-30 he comes in behind a mediocre approach and is lobbed. Break point: A deep Schuettler return handcuffs Agassi, whose reply sails inches beyond the baseline. Break in hand, Schuettler now leads 4-2 with the finish line in sight.

Serving for the match at 5-3, Schuettler held at love against an Agassi who looked like he had abandoned ship. When Agassi sent a tired second serve return long at match point, it was over. The happy German signed approximately 10,000 autographs before making his way to his press conference.

With his big win tonight, Schuettler has reached his second Masters Series final of the year, after Indian Wells in March. And, after the humiliating loss in the Australian Open final, he had proved a point. Did he notice any problem with Agassi?s movement that might suggest a hip injury? ?You?d have to ask him that,? said the victor cautiously.

Of course, someone did ask Agassi that. ?No, no, it?s fine, thanks,? answered Agassi without a great deal of conviction. Believe him if you will. In any event, he confirmed that he will not play at next week?s Masters Series in Cincinnati. This was apparently a last-minute decision, since Agassi?s name appears in the Cincinnati draw that had been released today. ?I feel like I?ve had enough matches,? claimed Agassi, whose U.S. Open preparation will have been limited to eight matches: four here and four last week in Washington, where he lost in the semis to Fernando González. ?Spend a couple of weeks getting ready for the Open and roll the dice,? concluded Agassi with an appropriate Las Vegas image.

David Nalbandian def. Feliciano Lopez, 6-4, 6-4
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: First meeting

Schuettler?s semifinal opponent tomorrow will be unseeded Argentine David Nalbandian. Nalbandian?s returns got a test against the booming lefty serves of 21-year-old Spaniard Feliciano López in the last match of the evening. The match was witnessed by, at best, only about half of the fans who had been present at the Schuettler-Agassi match played just before.

It wasn?t easy, but Nalbandian, also 21, managed to break López once in each set, and took excellent care of his more controlled but accurate serve. Once the rallies started, Nalbandian?s depth and control of shot were superb, while the Spaniard was powerful but too erratic. ?Feliciano hits hard and has a great serve,? observed Nalbandian. ?I think my return was very good and that was the big thing today.? Like Schuettler-Agassi, Schuettler-Nalbandian will be a rematch from this year?s Australian Open. This time Nalbandian will want to do the avenging, since he lost to the German in the quarterfinals Down Under. ?It?s gonna be a tough match, he?s a good player,? said David. ?He beat Agassi so he?s doing okay! But I think I?m going good also. It will be a tough match.?

Last year the Canadian Open was won by another unseeded Argentine, Guillermo Cañas. Could Nalbandian turn the same trick here? ?I hope,? said David with a nod.

(3)Roger Federer def. Max Mirnyi, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Federer leads 5-2

Despite holding a 5-2 career advantage over Max Mirnyi, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer has an unpleasant memory of the last time he faced his former doubles partner on outdoor hard courts. It was in the fourth round of last year?s U.S. Open, a straight set loss to Mirnyi. As an indication of how far the Swiss star has come since then, today he played almost flawless tennis, passing the net-rushing Mirnyi almost at will in a commanding performance.

We saw early indications in the opening set that this might be a rough day for big Max. On his first service game Mirnyi repeatedly attacked the net as is his custom, but Federer calmly ripped three passing shots past him. The Swiss broke at 15-40, with a fourth, yet luckier pass that skipped off the top of the net, over Mirnyi?s racquet, and in. At 0-3 Mirnyi managed to hold serve to get on the board, but he never managed to worry his opponent?s serve. In fact, Mirnyi never even managed a break poin t, or even a deuce, all match.

After Federer took a 4-1 lead, a group of fans sang an off-key rendition of ?Happy Birthday? to the Swiss star, who celebrated his 22nd birthday today. Despite the singing, Federer kept his focus. With Mirnyi in trouble again at 2-5, 15-40, Federer wrapped up the first set thanks to another fine backhand pass.

The Wimbledon champion almost always stayed back on the baseline, willing to take his chances with his groundstrokes and passing shots. And his tennis was virtually error-free. We noticed midway through the second set that he already had 22 winners and just 2 unforced errors. But Mirnyi had started to serve better and anticipate Federer?s passes, and was at least able to hold serve and stay even. At 4-3 Federer stepped up his return game and earned two break points, but ?The Beast? served and volleyed his way out of trouble. At 5-4 we were treated to the best point of the match -- Federer displayed his excellent speed with two sensational side-to-side gets before Mirnyi finally finished the point with an overhead. Still no breaks, though, and a tie-break was eventually called for.

• RF serving: A swinging Federer volley forces a Mirnyi error. 1-0 Federer
• MM: Mirnyi follows his serve with a backhand volley that clips the tape but goes over. 1-1
• MM: Mirnyi hits a high, stretching forehand volley that goes just long. 2-1 Federer
• RF: A rare Federer error, on the backhand. 2-2
• RF: Federer follows his first serve with a short forehand winner. 3-2 Federer
• MM: Mirnyi?s first volley is too short, and Roger?s forehand pass is child?s play. 4-2 Federer
• MM: Mirnyi serve / forehand volley. 4-3 Federer
• RF: Mirnyi over-anticipates a Federer down the line pass, and the ball hits the running Belarussian. 5-3 Federer
• RF: service winner. 6-3 Federer, match point
• MM: Federer?s low return forces a Mirnyi half-volley that is too short, and Federer passes him for the umpteenth and final time today. Game set and match, a commanding performance by the Swiss!

Federer, who had 8 aces, 32 winners and just 4 unforced errors, could hardly have played any better.

During Federer?s post-match interview with Hélène Pelletier of RDS, the winner was presented with a birthday cake in the form of a tennis racquet. Pelletier led the crowd in the customary Quebec birthday song, ?Mon cher Roger / C?est à ton tour / De te laisser parler d?amour? (My dear Roger / It?s your turn / To let yourself speak of love). Federer was later asked which surprise he most appreciated, the cake, or the cow he was given in Gstaad last month. His diplomatic response: ?As long as the pe ople really mean the present, that?s the most important.?

Federer plans to celebrate his birthday tonight by dining with some friends, one of whom will be? Max Mirnyi. Mirnyi, obviously not too embittered by the loss, said he will pay for the dinner.

We?re sure the celebration will not last too late, since Federer has an even more important date at 1:00 tomorrow afternoon with Andy Roddick.

(6)Andy Roddick def. Karol Kucera, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Roddick leads 1-0 (2000 Washington)

The first set was tight, with one break of serve each way. In terms of total points won it was a standoff, 43-43. But the system of tennis scoring is geared to the important points, as Todd Martin once wisely said, and Roddick had the good idea to win the final two points of the set. At 5-5 of the tie-break, on Kucera?s serve, Kucera tried to wrong-foot Roddick with a down-the-line backhand -- a ploy that had worked for him several times in this set -- but pushed it wide. On set point Roddick ser ved and volleyed, but his backhand volley was poor and landed short. Kucera had a lot of options but chose an odd one -- he pushed a little finesse shot that wound up in the net, and the American escaped with the first set.

Kucera sagged badly at the start of the second set, committing three straight unforced errors from 15-15 to drop the opening game. That was all Roddick needed, since he was serving so well and backing it up with controlled power from the baseline. Kucera didn?t get a sniff at a break point in the second set. Roddick stuck home the dagger at 5-3, breaking the Slovak?s serve for good measure at love, Kucera double faulting on the final two points.

The rampant Roddick has become Mister Consistency in recent months. This will be his fifth straight semifinal, and ninth of the year. Tomorrow?s appetizing semifinal against Federer pits two of the hottest players on tour against each other. They are in the top five according to both the race ranking and matches won. The American will be gunning for his first win against Federer in five tries. Their last meeting was in the Wimbledon semis, when Federer, as he did today, played almost flawlessly. ?You know,? recalled Roddick, ?he had something like 66 winners and 11 errors or something absurd like that, so he was just too good. I?ll definitely have to step it up a level from today if I?m going to win.?

Back to the topic of birthdays... While it was Federer?s day today, one of the other protagonists in the Federer-Roddick semifinal will have his turn tomorrow. No, not Roddick, but his wily coach Brad Gilbert, who will turn 42.

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Doubles! Doubles!

The doubles semifinalists are now set, and an excellent final weekend is in store with four strong teams.

• Mahesh Bhupathi / Max Mirnyi (1) vs. Martin Damm / Cyril Suk (6)
• Jonas Bjorkman / Todd Woodbridge (4) vs. Bob Bryan / Mike Bryan (2)

We apologize for neglecting the doubles stars up to now, and we promise to say more about them tomorrow.

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Quotable quotes

Roger Federer admitted last year that his body reacts badly to the North American summer circuit, as the high heat and humidity give him headaches and make him dizzy. This year, so far so good. ?I don?t think you can really train for that. I guess I would have to go and live here or in Miami or something. This week it hasn?t been too hot, except maybe the Tuesday when I played. So I think it?s just a matter of getting used to it, and just, you know, keeping some ice on your head or drink a lot. ?

Federer also gave us a status report on Juliette, the cow he was famously awarded in Gstaad last month in recognition of his Wimbledon title. ?She?s up in the Alps, where she belongs.? The press was certainly in a bovine mood today: Andy Roddick was asked if he had ever received an odd gift such as a cow. ?No,? quipped Roddick, ?I don?t think I?d like livestock if I won.?

Nick Bollettieri, the legendary American coach, was holding court, as it were, on Court 10 this afternoon, answering questions on a variety of topics. Bollettieri is promoting an organization called ?For the Love of Kids?, which is fighting child obesity. ?One of the biggest evils in the world today, right up there with drugs, alcohol and smoking, is the computer. How can kids get the physical activity they need when they are spending 5 or 6 hours a day in front of the computer?? So you may log of f now, dear readers, and jog around the block. Nick B would approve!