Agassi, Nadal to Square Off in ATP Montreal Final

On Saturday in Montreal Agassi was forced to play two matches due to rain, resuming a match with a 6-3, 6-4 win over No. 6 seed Gaston Gaudio, then dismantling the serve-and-stone-the-volley game of unseeded Brit Greg Rusedski 6-4, 6-4.

"I hope (the fans are) excited," Agassi said. "I don't get to be in too many finals any more. I'm certainly looking forward to it. Certainly, playing (Nadal) will bring out my best. I don't really have a choice."

The top-seeded Nadal weathered a 6-4, 7-5 challenge from unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who earlier in the week escorted Andy Roddick out of the event.

"I was a little bit nervous at the end, but I think is normal," said Nadal, who failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second, broken at love. "The important thing is that I got the win against a player that has been playing very good. I'm very happy to be in my fourth Masters Series final."

Nadal won Masters Series events in Rome and Monte Carlo on clay earlier in the year, and lost in the hardcourt Miami final to Roger Federer, who sat out this week to heal a foot injury.

It will be the career-first meeting between Agassi and Nadal.

"(Nadal) hits what seems to be a very mean ball -- hard for a lot of guys to do much with," Agassi said.

"He moves incredibly well. I'm going to have to pick my shots and play great tennis."

For Nadal the final will be a dream first-time meeting.

"I am very happy because I'll play against one of the best players in history," Nadal said. "This is the opportunity to play against one of the legends of tennis before he retires."

Rusedski had also played two matches on the day Saturday, earlier defeating Dominik Hrbaty 6-3, 6-4 before falling to Agassi.

In doubles action, both finalists won two matches Saturday due to the rain-backed-up schedule.

Israel's unseeded team of Erlich/Ram defeating No. 3 seeds Knowles/Nestor 7-6 in the third and the No. 2-seeded Bryan brothers in three sets, and No. 4-seeded Zimbabweans Black/Ullyett beating No. 7 seeds Bhupathi/Damm, then ousting the top-seeded team of Bjorkman/Mirnyi in three.