Lendl, Becker Hold Edge in Semifinal Mismatches

Are the men’s semifinals sort of semi-mismatches today in the U.S. Open?

They sure look that way. In the first one, Aaron Krickstein, who has never beaten Boris Becker, will try again.

Then, after the women’s final, the second men’s semifinal pits Andre Agassi against Ivan Lendl, whom Agassi has never beaten.

Lendl, trying to reach the Open final for the eighth consecutive year, is 5-0 against Agassi, including a semifinal victory in last year’s Open.

Agassi ended Jimmy Connors’ 20th U.S. Open and won his first five-set match at the same time Thursday. Just about everyone considered this a significant achievement except Connors.

“I don’t think just getting into a fifth set with anybody is an accomplishment,” said Connors, who told friends after the match that he would “rather have died” than lose to Agassi.

Tim Mayotte, who was beaten by Lendl, said Agassi may already be psyched out.

“I don’t think that he feels, right now, that he’s strong enough to stay with Lendl for five sets,” Mayotte said. “I don’t think Andre wants that. I’ve heard him say that he thinks Ivan is just the toughest guy to play.”

Krickstein is 0-3 against Becker and has not won a set. The last time they played was at Wimbledon, where Becker won in the fourth round, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

However, Becker chose not to underestimate Krickstein this time.

“He is a good player, especially here at the U.S. Open he’s a strong player on hard court and in the best-of-five (sets),” Becker said.

But?

“He didn’t play McEnroe or Wilander; he did play Jay Berger and players like that . . . he deserves to be in the semifinals.”

Maybe just not for very long. In 1983, Krickstein, then 17, made it to the fourth round of the Open, defeating Stefan Edberg in the first round. Since then, Krickstein has had problems with injuries and missed the Open in 1986 and ’87.

Krickstein defeated Berger in the quarterfinals and was asked when his last big victory was.

“Oh, Edberg, here, in ‘83,” he answered.

That’s a long time since a highlight.