Top seed Rafael Nadal will bid for a third consecutive title on Sunday when he faces 35-year-old Andre Agassi in a battle of tennis generations at the Montreal Masters after both players advanced with straight set victories.
The Spanish teenager battled to a 6-4, 7-5 victory over unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, while fourth seeded American Agassi overcame Montreal-born Briton Greg Rusedski 6-4, 6-4.
"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."
With eight titles so far in 2005 including the French Open, the Spanish youngster improved his season record to 64-8, although he did lose a service game for the first time this week after 51 consecutive holds.
A winner of this event three times, Agassi captured the first of his 60 career titles when Nadal was just a year old.
"I'm looking forward to this match," Agassi said. "To watch him play over the last few years has been enjoyable... what he means to the game and how he carries himself.
"I'll have the best seat in the house."
Victory over the 63rd-ranked Mathieu gave Nadal his 15th consecutive match win and the world number two has lifted clay court titles at Bastad and Stuttgart since losing in the second round at Wimbledon in June.
The 19-year-old said that he felt the pressure during the second set game where he lost serve when serving for the match.
"It was the first time I was a little bit nervous in the tournament," he said.
"I am playing to reach the final of a Masters Series and that's very important for me. It's normal to be nervous."
After both players were forced to complete their rain-delayed quarter-finals earlier in the day, Agassi eased past Rusedski with a single break in each set to record his eighth win in ten meetings with the Briton, sealing victory with a stylish volley.
