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Men's Tennis
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Women's Tennis
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| Tuesday, May 29 |
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| Agassi dumps Johansson in straight sets ESPN.com news services | |||
PARIS – Andre Agassi shrugged off his
indifferent clay-court form to ease past Sweden's Thomas
Johansson 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 on Tuesday and into the second round of
the French Open.
But eighth-seeded Patrick Rafter wasn't as fortunate. The
Australian, who has twice won the U.S. Open, wasted a two-set
advantage against countryman Wayne Arthurs before losing 4-6, 2-6,
6-3, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
And last year's runner-up, No. 9 Magnus Norman, was upset 4-6,
4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-2 by Spain's David Sanchez. Norman had won
only two of nine matches on clay this season on entering the
French.
No. 5 seed Pete Sampras survived a scare against French qualifier Cedric Kauffmann 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 8-6.
Third-seeded Agassi, who arrived in Paris with just one victory
on clay this season, looked as comfortable on the Roland Garros
Center Court as he did in 1999 when he lifted the French title
to complete his Grand Slam collection.
"Every day is different here," Agassi said. "It's all about
making sure that you are physically and mentally ready. It's not
easy, but it never has been."
The Australian Open champion was far from spectacular but
did not have to be against the Swede, who until two weeks ago
had won only three clay-court matches in three years. In six
visits to Roland Garros he has now made four first-round exits.
The victory, completed in just under two hours, also kept
alive talk of Agassi becoming only the second man to win all
four Grand Slam crowns in the same year.
No. 2 Marat Safin tried to kick-start his season with a 6-3,
6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-1 win over Austrian Markus Hipfl.
"I think some people may have forgotten that I am still
playing tennis," he said afterward. "It would be great to get
some good results here, I need to get some confidence back.
"I am in a perfect situation. Nobody is expecting much from
me so I am an outsider even though I am seeded two."
Safin was never at his best on Court Suzanne Lenglen against
his 81st-ranked opponent, but did enough to advance.
The Russian has never been beyond the quarterfinals at
Roland Garros and faces Francisco Clavet or Alex Calatrava of
Spain in the second round.
"I am in a strange situation," said Safin, who has yet to
win a tournament this year. "I have been injured, couldn't play
for a month-and-a-half with a back injury.
"I am now in my fourth week back and have nothing to do but
play tennis."
Earlier, 1998 champion Carlos Moya beat fellow Spaniard
Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4, 6-0, while Belgian Olivier Rochus beat
Swiss Marc Rosset 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
No. 10 Sebastien Grosjean, No. 13 Alex Corretja and No. 16
Franco Squillari went safely through to the second round.
Until Norman's loss, the men's field produced no major
surprises, although 15th-seeded Jan-Michael Gambill was ousted
Monday. Defending champion Gustavo Kuerten, No. 4 Juan Carlos
Ferrero, No. 6 Lleyton Hewitt and No. 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov all
advanced. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | |
ALSO SEE Sampras survives 5-set near-opening disaster Serena Williams, Hingis, Capriati all advance Goodbye Paris: Venus defeated in French opener Kuerten opens in Paris with easy first-round victory | |
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