MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov finally had to beat a top 15 player at the Australian Open. It was quick and easy.
To keep his title, he has to beat Andre Agassi, who was strong enough to withstand 37 aces by Pete Sampras.
Kafelnikov wielded a lethal forehand today in advancing to Sunday's final with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 12 Magnus Norman in 90 minutes.
Norman, in his first Grand Slam semifinal, looked nothing like the solid slugger who ousted No. 4 Nicolas Kiefer in the quarterfinals. He committed 41 unforced errors to 18 by Kafelnikov.
Kafelnikov, seeded second, said he would relax before the final by playing golf Saturday.
But, he said, after a match like Agassi's dramatic five-set comeback against Sampras in their semifinal, "I have a big responsibility to make sure I don't disappoint the crowd."
"The pressure is enormous. You don't get many chances to play in a Grand Slam final."
Kafelnikov has a 4-5 record against Agassi, who has won their past three meetings. Agassi also has reached four consecutive Grand Slam finals, winning the French and U.S. Opens last year and losing in the Wimbledon final to Sampras.
Still, Kafelnikov said, he prefers to meet Agassi because when Sampras' serve is working, his opponent has no chance.
Norman said that "if Yevgeny can play like he did today, I think he has got a good shot."
Kafelnikov broke at love in Norman's first service game, won 10 of the first 11 games and didn't yield a break point until the final set's fourth game.
Norman cashed that in with a backhand down the line, tying the score at 2-2. But Kafelnikov broke him for the sixth time for 4-3 and then held serve twice more.
Norman threw down his racket in disgust several times. The first outburst came when Kafelnikov broke him in the second set's first game with a forehand that zipped through the tiny opening Norman left him down the line.
Norman said, "I would do anything to get one more chance really to show that I can play better. . . "