New York ? Andre Agassi survived a strong effort by Xavier Malisse on Monday and, at 35, became the oldest U.S. Open men’s quarterfinalist since Jimmy Connors (39) in 1991.

Agassi overcame his bad back to down the Belgian player, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-2.

He next faces fellow American James Blake, a wild card who came back from injury and illness to knock off No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the third round and beat No. 19 Tommy Robredo in the fourth, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

A year ago, Blake was recovering from partial paralysis of his face, caused by shingles, and watched the Open on television, uncertain if he ever would play again. Asked what he would have thought then if told he’d be playing Agassi in the quarters this year, Blake laughed.

Andre Agassi blows kisses to fans after upending Xavier Malisse of Belgium, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-2. Agassi won Monday at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York.

“I don’t think I would have been able to speak,” he said. “I think my year would have gotten worse, because I would have had a heart attack.”

Blake made a comeback from fractured vertebrae in his neck 16 months ago and the shingles that followed after his father died of cancer.

“He’s always been a real dangerous player,” Agassi said of the 25-year-old Blake, who beat him en route to his first tour title in Washington three years ago, but has lost three of their four meetings.

“You never know when somebody comes of age or game,” Agassi said. “Some people, it happens a lot earlier than others. … There’s no question he’s doing something better than he used to do.”

In a reversal of the French Open final, Mary Pierce beat No. 7 Justine Henin-Hardenne, 6-3, 6-4, to reach the quarters here for the first time since 1999. The 29-year-old Lindsay Davenport, the 1998 champion, won, 6-0, 6-3, over France’s Nathalie Dechy. Davenport next plays Elena Dementieva, last year’s runner-up, who beat No. 11 Patty Schnyder in straight sets. No. 3 Amelie Mauresmo beat No. 19 Elena Likhovtseva, also in straight sets, and will play Pierce.