Holder Agassi makes emotional Los Angeles exit

LOS ANGELES, July 29 (Reuters) Four-times champion Andre Agassi made an emotional exit in the Los Angeles Open quarter-finals losing 6-4 3-6 7-5 to Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.

In the 60th and final title defence of his glittering career, the 36-year-old American saved three match points in the 10th game of the deciding set before being broken for the third time in the 12th.

''It was a disappointing loss for sure but Fernando did so many things well,'' fifth seed Agassi told reporters. ''He never gives you much rhythm.

''He certainly earned it at the end. He just stepped it up and was hitting it really big. He played some spectacular points to get it over the line finally. It was an uphill battle but he hung in there.

''It was a good match, a high standard and I'm glad to be a part of that competition.'' Agassi, who has said he will retire after the US Open, received a standing ovation from the crowd at the Los Angeles Tennis Center before acknowledging the applause with a bow to all four sides.

''I don't think you ever really prepare yourself for the emotions,'' he added.

''It's not just saying goodbye to something I've done for 20 years but also saying goodbye to so many people who have been so good to me over the years. I'll miss it dearly.'' VARIED PACE Third seed Gonzalez broke Agassi in the seventh game, cleverly varying the pace of his ground strokes and forcing errors from the American.

Leading 5-4, the Chilean trailed 15-40 on his own serve before taking the first set 6-4 as temperatures climbed to 110 degrees.

The second set went with serve until Agassi broke for the first time in the sixth game after putting Gonzalez under increasing pressure with several superb returns of serve.

With the crowd right behind him, the eight-times grand slam winner served out to win the set and level the match.

After receiving courtside medical treatment when leading 2-1 in the deciding set, Gonzalez began to tighten his grip.

The 25-year-old Chilean unleashed a barrage of rasping forehand winners to earn three match points with Agassi serving at 0-40 in the 10th game, although the gutsy American fought back to level at 5-5.

Gonzalez held serve to forge ahead 6-5 and another crushing forehand gave him two match points on Agassi's serve in the 12th game.

He needed only one of them, sealing victory after one of the most protracted rallies of the match.

Gonzalez will meet Russian eighth seed Dmitry Tursunov in the semi-finals.

REUTERS PM RAI0857