Back survives long night for Agassi

WASHINGTON (AP) -- If Andre Agassi's back was going to fail him at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, this would have been the night.

Agassi beat 17-year-old Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals on Friday in a match delayed twice by rain. The top seed then started his doubles match almost immediately with partner Sargis Sargsian and pulled a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 upset of the second-seeded doubles team.

"Today, I think, was the ultimate test," Agassi said. "As tight as I feel now is as tight as I feel on a normal level. I think it (the back problem) is pretty much behind me."

In singles, the tournament's five-time champion broke serve once in each set and was in control of most of the points against the teen-age American wild-card entry.

"He certainly seems to have a lot of weapons," Agassi said. "I'm never surprised when guys step it up."

In the semifinals Saturday, Agassi was to face 14th seed David Prinosil.