crank up: 增加；改善

美国网球公开赛男单1/8决赛中，7号种子美国名将阿加西苦战5盘，最终艰难的战胜了比利时选手马里塞晋级8强。请看外电的报道：

Andre Agassi became the fourth man over 35 and the first in 14 years to make the U.S. Open quarterfinals Monday, outlasting¹ Xavier Malisse 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-2. Two points from a straight-sets win, Agassi couldn't find answers when Malisse cranked up the intensity² and evened the match.

"I was a bit discouraged there in the fourth. As hard as I was wanting to try, there's not a lot you can do when you're just not getting into the points," Agassi said. "Physically³, I felt great. I just needed a chance. I didn't get that until the fifth.

"I was going to make him earn it," Agassi added. "He was going to have to play another great set."

文中的crank up意思是to increase, improve or develop (something)，即"增加；加快；改善"。如：They cranked up the pressure on the company with ads in the press.（他们在报刊上大做广告，给这家公司施加压力。）