BASLE. Switzerland. Oct 9: It was .i Black Friday in Basle as the top seeds fell like autumn leaves, with top ranked Andre Agassi, second-seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov and third-seed Greg Rusedski tumbling out of the 1 million dollar Swiss Indoors championship. reports AP.

Ivanisevic, who blasted 29 aces past the Australian Open champion on way to a 4-6. 6-4. 6-4 upset win.

The day ended the way it began with Britain's Rusedski, fresh off his 1.3 million dollars victory at the Grand Slam Cup. being dispatched 2-6. 7-6. 6-3 by young German Nikolas Kiefer.

■You have some good days and some bad days, said

Agassi, the French and US Open champion, led the parade of seeds out of the tournament when he was unceremoniously dispatched 6-4, 7-5 by 20th-ranked Karli Kucera of Slovakia.

The day began with Kafelnikov being blown out of the event by hard-hitting Goran

Agassi, the winner of’four tournaments this season. "Some days it's easier to go to work than others.

"But today wasn't one of those days. He (Kucera) just played well."

It was the second time in as many days Agassi struggled against a lower-ranked player.

clawing his way past France s Nicolas Escude in a tough three-setter in Thursday's second round.

Agassi seemed on the verge of staging another thrilling comeback against Kucera, building a 4-1 lead in the second set after losing the first.

But Kucera doggedly chipped away at Agassi's advantage, breaking back to get back on serve at 4-2, and again to take the lead at 6-5.

The 29-year-old Las Vegan seemed powerless to tame the feisty Slovak, who clinched the victory on the third of three match points, when Agassi overshot Kucera's baseline.

"The key was his serve." said Agassi, who denied feeling tired despite his hectic schedule. "He served big at some crucial times."

Ivanisevic, who has always proven troublesome for Kafelnikov. improved his record 10-3 against the Russian.

Kafelnikov began strongly, winning the opening set.

But under the Croatian’s constant unforgiving firepower. Kafelnikov began to falter. giving up his serve at 4-3 In the second set.

With newly restored confidence. Ivanisevic continued his assault in the final set. breaking early in the final set to go 2-

Keeping alive a flicker of hope. Kafelnikov saved a first match point at 2-5 to hold his serve. but was no match for the l roatian power-server, who built another pair of match points the very next game and sealed the win with a missilelike ace.

"I don’t remember the last time I beat a top-10 player." said the 44111-ranked Ivanisevic. "For sure it’s over a year and it feels really great."

It marks Ivanisevic’s first semifinal of the season, the Croat never making it past the round of eight any time this year.

"All this year has not been easy," said Ivanisevic, who's been limping though one of the most disappointing seasons of his career, crashing out in the opening round of 11 tournaments so far. 'To lose in the first round five weeks in a row is terrible ... and guys you've never heard are beating you."

Kafelnikov, who held the top spot In the world rankings for six weeks this summer, and is currently second behind Agassi, was the second seeded player felled by Ivanisevic In Basle, the Croat defeating eighth-seed Thomas Enqlst in the opening round.

Mirroring Kafelnikov, Rusedski jumped to a quick lead in his quarterfinal, easily taking the first set. and storming to a 3-0 lead in the second.

But fifth-seed Kiefer, the winner of three tournaments this season, battled back to force the tiebreak.

The 22-year-old German then broke a visibly weary Rusedski to go up 4-2.

The Briton displayed a flash of spirit at 5-2. saving a match point to hold serve, but Kiefer, with the crowd in his corner, continued his relentless attack, quickly finishing off the match on his next serve.

In the semifinals. Kiefer will face Kucera while Ivanisevic will take on fourth-seed Tim Henman, who easily won his quarterfinal match 6-3. 7-5 against home favourite Roger Federer.