***It enabled Washington, 27, to become the first black player to reach a Wimbledon men's final since Arthur Ashe in 1975, and it may take Martin at least two decades to recover from his crushing disappointment.***

***Washington's victory over Martin, the 13th seed, ensures that Wimbledon will have its first unseeded champion since Boris Becker in 1985.***

LONDON. July 6: Two unseeded players will contest Sunday's Wimbledon men's final the first in

the history of the All-England Club.

American Malivai Washington and Dutchman Richard Krajicek had contrasting semifinal victories on Saturday, report agencies.

Todd Martin suffered the biggest Centre Court collapse since Jana Novotna in 1993 to give fellow Washington a helping hand towards his first final.

Washington, who twice came from a set down before the match was halted by rain on Friday, trailed 1-5 and a controversial line call in the decisive fifth set before staging an extraordinary fightback which earned him a 5-7, 6-4, 6-7. 6-3. 10-8 victory in three ours 49 minutes.

Washington was 6 years old when Ashe won Wimbledon.

Tm sure I'll get a good reception when I get back home," he said. "I have a lot of support from the black community in the States and around the world .... It's an honour to be the first black man Arthur to be in a Slam final." Martin, who played tentatively on many big points, said he never felt tighter during a tennis match.

"I froze up a little bit and Mal played well when he needed to," he said. "It's a game I've practiced a lot of times but I've never felt a feeling like today ."

While there was little sus-Ense during Friday’s four sets turday's fifth set was full of drama,

Martin raced out to a 5-1 lead but couldn’t convert. Twice he served for the match and both times Washington broke him and eventually evened the set at 6-6.

With no tiebreaker in the fifth set. controversy arose with Martin serving in the 13th game.

Krajicek, the 24-year-old Dutchman, who put out defending champion Pete Sampras in the previous round, slammed down another 15 aces to blast Australian Jason Stoltenberg off the No 1 Show Court 7-5, 6-2. 6-1.

He now tops the ace count with 133 since the tournament

The Wasljington-Martin match, which was suspended by rain for the fourth time at two sets apiece Friday, ended 25 hours after it began following 3:49 of actual playing time.

After Washington hit a high backhand volley for a crosscourt winner on his first match point, he dropped to both knees, clenched both fists and looked towards his friends and family In the players box.

There were distinct echoes of Novotna's tearful loss to Steffi Graf in the women's final three years ago. and Martin's parents in the players' box looked understandably devastated as the two friends and Davis Cup teammates embraced at tne net.

But Washington, ranked 20th in the world deserved his victory.

"You work hard for moments like this.” Washington said. "You Just want to seize the opportunity when it's in your reach. 1 could see it. When 1 was down 5-1. it looked like it was running the other way. I'm Just Olid I Mt* abM to Chtdh up with It."

Martin saved two break points before serving what ap-Kared to be his 11th double ilt that would given Washington a third chance to break.

The electronic - called "cyclops" - didn't beep on the second serve, which seemed on television replays to land slightly long. The line judge signaled the nail out.

Washington believed he won the point and Martin thought he nad.

Martin marched over to French chair umpire Bruno Rebeuh and said. The cyclops. C'mon."

The line judge got out of his seat and went over to Rebeuh. explaining that he overruled the cyclops. Washington came over, and the discussion centered on whether the ball landed beyond the range of the cyclops.

Rebeuh ruled in favour of Martin that since the cyclops didn't bleep it wasn't a double fault. Rebeuh is one of the most experienced umpires, but also among the most controversial. He was embroiled in a flap last year that led to Jeff Tarango's default.

"You can't do that." Washington argued. "If you're going to overrule and say the ball is out, OK we play two. But you're not even doing that. You didn't overrule. Are we Just playing on for the hell of it? He saw it out. but you're not overruling him?"

Just at that moment, the first rain since the match had resumed began to fall lightly.

Martin then served an ace. his 23rd, down the middle which Washington barely moved for. On the next point, a still-rattled Washington clubbed a backhand wide to fall behind again 7-6.

As the players sat down on the changeover. Washington, usually one of the most mild-mannered players on the tour, responded to a comment from Rebeuh. saying. "You didn't overrule it. Don't talk that crap to me. That's b.s.”

The rain picked up. sending the players off the court while it was covered.

After a 35-minute interruption. a more composed Washington came out and held serve at love, capping the game with an overhead smash, to level the set at 7-7.

After both players held easily in the next two games. Washington got the decisive break in the 17th game. Martin saved three break points before serving his 11th double fault to give Washington a fourth chance. This time. Martin netted a forehand volley to give Washington a 9-8 lead.

Serving, for the match. Washington fell behind 0 3Q Before winning four straight points to close out the contest.