Agassi Wins Opening Round Match At US Open

Flushing Meadows, NY (Sports Network) - Andre Agassi played his best tennis at the most crucial moment Monday night, putting off his retirement by rallying for a four-set victory over Romanian Andrei Pavel in the opening round at the U.S. Open. Agassi, who started his 21st and final U.S. Open, and in fact last professional tournament of his career, fell behind early but rallied for a 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (10-8), 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 victory in a match that lasted 3 1/2 hours. "I knew it would be a tough one today and I had to pick it up at the end," said the American Agassi. "I`m glad I did." The 36-year-old Agassi was behind 4-0 in the third set, but rallied with the help of a lost challenge from Pavel and a victory in another challenge replay call. Pavel fought off three set points in the third before succumbing to the two- time U.S. Open winner. Agassi, who lost to Roger Federer in last year`s final, will take on eighth seed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in round two. Andy Roddick will be around for more than one day at this year`s U.S. Open, as the American star rolled to a straight-set victory in the first round. Roddick, seeded ninth this year, cruised to a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Florent Serra of France. Last year, Roddick was bounced in the first round by Gilles Muller. Third seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia was an early upset victim, falling to Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Ljubicic had posted career-best marks in Grand Slams this year, including a loss in the semifinals at the French Open. With new coach Jimmy Connors looking on, Roddick simply dominated all aspects and won in a mere one hour and 22 minutes. He had his serve broken only once -- late in the third set -- and had seven breaks of Serra`s serve. Serra also had 35 unforced errors, while Roddick committed just nine. Connors, a five-time U.S. Open champ, has helped Roddick turn around a dismal season. The 2003 U.S. Open winner is now 13-1 since hooking up with Connors and is coming off his first victory of 2006 at Cincinnati earlier this month. "I just enjoy his presence," Roddick said of Connors. "I`m excited every morning when I wake up to go try to learn new things. I`ve said it before, his passion for the game and for this process is huge. It`s contagious." Also Monday, sixth seed Tommy Robredo of Spain pounded Brazil`s Flavio Saretta, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2; and Baghdatis got by Germany`s Alexander Waske, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (9-7), 6-3. David Ferrer, the 11th seed, beat Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (8-6), 6-1. Xavier Malisse topped 13th seed Jarkko Nieminen, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. American Mardy Fish advanced with a 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 win over Simon Greul of Germany, while 20th-seeded Novak Djokovic rallied from a set down to post a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 win over American Donald Young. Fish made the first player challenge in Grand Slam history. It was in the second game of the third set that Fish challenged Greuls point-winning shot, which was called in on the sideline. The call was upheld, pulling the set even after a video replay. Dominik Hrbaty was a first-round loser as Russia`s Mikhail Youzhny pulled off a 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 victory over the 19th-seeded Slovakian. Thailand`s Paradorn Srichaphan upended 24th seed Jose Acasuso of Argentina, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 6-3; and 25th seed Richard Gasquet of France beat American Phillip Simmonds, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. Before Agassi`s match Monday night, there was a special ceremony on court to rename the USTA National Tennis Center -- the worlds largest public tennis facility -- the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The event was held to honor the tennis legend, who has been recognized for leading the women`s movement in tennis by fighting for equal rights in the sport. King is one of the most decorated champions in tennis history with 39 Grand Slam titles, including 13 U.S. Open crowns. Second seed Rafael Nadal, No.4 seed David Nalbandian and fifth seed James Blake are all in action Tuesday. The Spaniard Nadal will battle Australian Mark Philippoussis. The Argentine Nalbandian, the last player to have defeated Federer at the U.S. Open, in the fourth round in 2004, goes against Germany`s Michael Berrer. The American Blake, who is second only to Federer with 30 hard court wins this season, will play Argentine Juan Monaco. The top-seeded Federer, trying to become the first player in the Open era to complete the Wimbledon-U.S. Open sweep for a third straight year, plays his first-round match Wednesday versus Taiwan`s Yeu-Tzuoo Wang. (Copyright 2005 by The Sports Network)