Seventh seed Andre Agassi staved off a stunning fightback from Xavier Malisse to beat the Belgian 6-3 6-4 6-7 4-6 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The 35-year-old American led by two sets and 5-3 in the third-set tiebreak.

Malisse stormed back to level the match only for Agassi to snatch the fifth and deciding set.

Agassi, champion in 1994 and 1999, will play American wild card James Blake or 19th seed Tommy Robredo of Spain in the last eight.

For the best part of three sets Agassi gave Malisse, the world number 54, a lesson in hardcourt tennis as he pulled the Belgian all over Arthur Ashe Court.

But having moved to within two points of the match in the third-set tiebreak, Agassi was left helpless as Malisse hit four winners to take it 7-5.

Malisse, who recovered from two sets down to beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the previous round, then outplayed Agassi in all departments to level the match.

However, Agassi broke twice in the fifth set to advance to the quarter-finals for the 13th time.

Second seed Lindsay Davenport enjoyed a Labor Day stroll into the US Open quarter-finals, thrashing Nathalie Dechy of France 6-0 6-3.

Davenport had won all seven of their previous meetings but was severely tested in the Australian Open semi-finals by Dechy this year when she won 2-6 7-6 6-4.

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