Agassi-Federer Meeting Booked, Bad Day for Johanssons at Australian Open

World No. 1 Roger Federer and four-time Australian Open champion Andre Agassi won through in fourth round play Sunday in Melbourne to set up a marquee quarterfinal meeting.

Agassi weathered a slam-record 51 aces in four sets delivered by Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson, coming from a set down to edge the No. 11-seeded 6-foot-6 Swede 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 7-6(3), 6-4.

"It was a tough day," Agassi said with a smile in his post-match conference. "I reacted and pushed myself and I felt good. I was anxious the whole time. It's tough to sort of find your rhythm when he's not giving it to you. Joachim today was hitting the ball so big, what can you do but sort of react?"

Johansson was supported by a boisterous Swedish fan contingent that belted out cheers, did aerobics and at one point broke into the disco hit "That's the Way (I Like It)" by K.C. and The Sunshine Band.

Agassi, who holds a 3-4 career record versus Federer, including losses in their last four meetings, said he is looking forward to turning around the trend.

"I'm really excited and looking forward to the challenge and opportunity of playing Roger," Agassi said. "I mean, somebody has to beat him sooner or later, right? I hope it's Tuesday night."

Federer for his part turned back a late-match rally by unseeded Marcos "Bombs Over" Baghdatis, who took a set off him in their last meeting at the US Open. Federer worked over the Cypriot rookie 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) for his 25th consecutive match win, then turned prickly when reporters asked him afterwards if he was at the level to beat Agassi.

"I don't know why you ask me a question like this," said an irritated Federer. "I think I've proven myself in the past, and I know my game's good enough. Also on my day where I'm not playing perfect, I know I can beat him. He's not as good as he was when he was at the top of the rankings, otherwise he would be there. Fortunately, I'm there. I think he has to raise his game, not me."

In other fourth-round matches, No. 4 Marat Safin and No. 20 Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty set up a quarterfinal clash, with the Russian beating unseeded Belgian Olivier "The Roach" Rochus in three tiebreaks after dropping the first set, and The Dominator beating former champ and No. 30 seed Thomas "Tommy the J." Johansson in straights.

Against the ever-retrieving Rochus, Safin worked to contain his frustrations, receiving a warning for smashing a racquet and conducting vocal self-examinations as he walked the baseline between points.

"He's a really tough player," Safin said. "A lot of people underestimate him and he can cause you a lot of trouble. He reads the game well, he is very fast and has a great forehand...I couldn't break him and it was psychological and he was taking advantage. He didn't let me play."

Matches scheduled for Monday include Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. (3) Hewitt (Aussie leads meetings 2-0, both on hardcourt), Guillermo "El Fragile" Coria vs. (9) David Nalbandian in an all-Gaucho (Coria leads 3-0, all on clay), Kohlschreiber vs. (2) Roddick (American won their lone meeting in 2003 on clay), and (26) Davydenko vs. (12) Canas (Canas has won all three meetings on three different surfaces).