Pat Rafter got his tactical game just right yesterday to avenge last year's semi-final defeat by Andre Agassi and set up a mouth-watering final against six times champion Pete Sampras.

The Bermuda-based Australian kept his nerve -- and his serve -- after breaking Agassi in the sixth game of the fifth set in a match that will go down as one of Wimbledon's classic semi-finals.

For Rafter, who won 7-5 4-6 7-5 4-6 6-3, it is a remarkable comeback. Three months ago he was preparing himself for the worst case scenario of retirement as he battled a shoulder injury that forced him out of the first round of the US Open last September.

Rafter has admitted being surprised by his progress at this year's All England Championships, but he knows it is the reward for the work that he has put in.

"It's been a long road back,'' he said afterwards. "I think that's the most satisfying aspect of it. Now I'm in the final; it's a big shock.'' That said, there was more, much more, to this victory than a strong work ethic. Rafter, athletic but still in some ways ungainly at the same time, revealed the full range and variety to his game.

He struggled at times to get his first serve in, especially in the second set, but otherwise his tennis -- and his game plan -- was a joy to behold.

Cleverly changing the pace of the rallies, he upset Agassi, who loves the ball to be coming at him at speed for the passing shots that he drills with such precision down either line.

Mixed up with the aces and forehands on the run were quite delicious volleys, long or short, and the rarely played lob volley that caught out Agassi when he did venture too far forward, was a willingness and intelligence to play out longer points, corner to corner, Rafter slicing on his backhand, Agassi bludgeoning with his.

Rafter claimed: "That's what I do all the time anyway. The good thing about today is I mixed it up very well. In the past I probably haven't done that enough.

"Today was a match that I couldn't have played any better in the circumstances, on a big court, against one of the best players ever. I hadn't proved myself on a big match situation before today. I guess it shows I'm probably coming back.'' It was a tense but interesting opening set, as each player tried to swing the balance in his favour. Rafter finally did so when Agassi double faulted in the 12th game at 15-30 and then drove the ball long in one of those extended rallies.

Rafter broke Agassi's first service game for a 2-0 lead in the second set, but Agassi hit straight back and then captured Rafter's serve again in the ninth game to clinch the set. The third set saw a repetition as Rafter broke and immediately lost his serve, before Agassi double faulted twice then hit a regulation forehand into the net to make it 2-1 to Rafter.

The Australian was broken in the first game of the fourth and then missed five break points as Agassi survived six deuces for a 2-0 lead which was enough to force a final set.

Rafter got a stroke of luck serving at 1-1, a volley that looked long being ruled in as Agassi appealed to the crowd adjacent to the line for support.

Then Rafter's renowned athleticism and determination showed itself as a brilliant diving backhand volley helped him hold at 3-2. Then came the crucial break and a faultless service game as Rafter closed the match. Three aces in his last two service games gave Rafter an impressive total of 18 for the match to underline his prowess, mainly on his kick second serve.

"At the end of the fourth set I just started finding the rhythm on my serve.

When I'm serving well and playing well, that's the way I serve,'' said Rafter.

"It's been a while since I served like that.'' So, can he win against Sampras tomorrow? Rafter said: "It's always tough to play against him, he has a presence about him. This is a Grand Slam final: he's been here many times before, it's my first at Wimbledon.

"I've just got to go out there with the same attitude I took onto the court today -- be relaxed -- and hopefully I can serve like I did in the fifth.'' Agassi wasn't discounting his chances, either.

"The guy is one match away from winning this title,'' he said. "That says to me he's doing something right out there. I always thought he was good enough to win on any surface. If he's healthy and he's been playing some matches, he's right up there with the best of them.'' Sampras yesterday beat Belarussian qualifier Vladimir Voltchkov 7-6 6-2 6-4 to give himself a shot at a record 13th Grand Slam crown and seventh Wimbledon title in eight years. He is currently tied with Australian Roy Emerson on 12 Grand Slams.

"It's going to be tough. Pat played really well today against Andre ...

he's one of the best serve-volleyers in the world,'' said Sampras.

The American's victory was, by contrast, an anti-climax. The top seed never really looked in danger and although Voltchkov stood his ground in the opening set he soon fell away.

Sampras received treatment to the shin injury which has prevented him practising between matches in the second set but didn't look to be in any discomfort.

"Hey, it's just one match to go now ... last match,'' Sampras said when asked if his shin injury would hold out.

At full stretch: Pat Rafter dives to make a backhand volley in the final set of his 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Andre Agassi in yesterday's Wimbledon men's singles semi-final. -- Reuter