YEW YORK. Sept building confidence with every success against a seeded player at the US Open

Agassi blasted his way into the semifinals Wednesday night, wiping out a seeded player for the third time, then admitted his sights are set higher.

T v<- said II a lol. probably too much, to Im- quite honest, but I feel like I can win these matches." Agassi said. "And I feel like I'm good enough to do It."

Agassi simply outgunned 13th seed Thomas Muster 7-6 (7-5). 6-3. 6-0 to grab a semi final berth against ninth-seeded Todd Martin a 6-4, 7-6 19-5). 4-6. 6-4 winner over Germany's Bernd Karbacher. reports AP.

With the victory. Agassi be come the seventh unseeded singles player to beat three seeded men in the same tournament. He defeated No. 6* Michael Chang and No. 12 Wayne Ferreira before Muster.

No unseeded man has ever defeated four seeded players, which Agassi could do by win ning his next match against Martin.

The last unseeded male to defeat three seeded players was Australian Fred Stolle in 1966. Ironically, the first to do it was Francis X. Shields in 1930. the grandfather of Agassi's current girlfriend, actress Brooke Shields.

Saturday's other semifinal pairing is to be decided Thursday and Thursday night as Peru's Jaime Yzaga plays Karel Novacek of the Czech Republic and No. 4 Michael Stich the highest seeded player remaining in the men -held, takes on Sweden's Jonas BJorknmn.

The Agassi-Muster clash was Just that — two heavyweights slugging it out.

There were very few drop shots or net approaches — the two instead reverting to raw lower Side to side, baseline to baseline, corner to corner. Muster drew first blood, breaking Agassi in (he third game. And it was the blond Austrian who had the easier' time holding serve, at least in the early going. It turned out to be Muster's final lead in this year's tournament.

Agassi, (inding the range with both his forehand and backhand, began moving Muster from side to side, controlling the points, making his opponent work for every shot.

I weathered a storm in the first set. and I felt good from there on in. Agassi said.

After Agassi broke Muster's serve to begin Hie si < ■ : I set.