7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

Often it takes years for a match to attain the status of classic but last year's semi-final between two of the biggest names in the game is already been mentioned among the very best.

It was the clash of styles that delighted the purists.

There was Rafter, the Australian who would serve and volley on every point and take every opportunity to steal the net from Agassi.

The American has the greatest return of serve of all time and passing shots you can shave on.

Rafter started the brighter and broke serve when Agassi double-faulted, holding out to take the first set.

Agassi levelled after breaking to lead 5-4 in the second as the Centre Court crowd started to appreciate that both men were playing at their very best.

Agassi handed Rafter the third set when errors start to creep into his play but the American bounced straight back with an early break in the fourth and kept Rafter at bay with fierce groundstrokes.

But eventually the pressure of seeing his opponent constantly at the net told even on Agassi and Rafter, who broke to lead 3-2, held on to reach the final.

Never one to mince his words, the only person on Centre Court who didn't appreciate what had happened was Agassi. "It sucked" was his verdict.