This Date in Wimbledon History: July 6

Teetering on the edge of elimination, Rafter rallied for a dramatic victory over the second-seeded Agassi in a thrilling, five-set semifinal showdown. The third-seeded Australian advanced to his second successive Wimbledon final.

Agassi appeared to be on the verge of advancing when he served for the match at 5-4 in the fifth, and was two points from victory at 30-15, but Rafter refused to wilt, winning three straight points to break back. Agassi was undone by Rafter's relentless net rushing and a momentary emotional lapse. Frustrated by his inability to convert a break point and a backhand called wide at 6-all in the fifth set, Agassi muttered an obscenity, whch a lineswoman reported it to chair umpire Mike Morrissey. He hit Agassi with a code violation warning, and the American never really recovered as Rafter hit a backhand pass to seal a memorable comeback.

"I think it was that lady that really got to him in the end. Nothing was going his way. I think he pretty well snapped," said Rafter, who hit 30 aces in the match. "He played a pretty loose game at 7-6. After about the second or third point, I thought, 'He's a little bit upset here.' He was a bit hacked off. I could tell then that that lady had played a bit of an influence on the match."

Agassi, who blasted a ball off the back wall in anger at one point, said afterward the match slipped from his grip at 5-4 in the fifth set.

"The 5-4 game, serving for the match, [I] missed a couple first serves. But, you know, he put the pressure on," Agassi said. "He hit a couple good returns deep, on the line and, you know, he stepped up his game. At the end of the day, he played better at the most important moments.".