Agassi marches on at Flushing Meadows
Friday, 1 September 2006Andre Agassi extended his illustrious career with a thrilling marathon victory over Marcos Baghdatis to reach the third round of the US Open.
Agassi, 36, rolled back the years to take a two-set lead before the Cypriot battled back to take the match into a final-set decider.
Cramp in both legs looked like undermining the 21-year-old's challenge before he overcame the problem to take the match to the wire.
But Agassi, who will retire after this tournament, showed his experience to win it 6-4 6-4 3-6 5-7 7-5 and secure his place in the third round.
Number two Rafael Nadal of Spain was involved in a real scrap with Luis Horna before beating the Peruvian 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2 to move through to the third round.
Nadal`s victory means he joins compatriots Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco in the next stage.
Verdasco next will meet Andy Roddick, who had earlier defeated Kristian Pless to become the first player to reach the third round.
Ferrer takes on Mikhail Youzhny and Robredo will face Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, who rallied from two sets down to beat Swede Robin Soderling.
Former champion Lleyton Hewitt wasted little time in dispatching Czech Jan Hernych, as the 15th-seeded Australian posted a 6-4 6-2 6-2 win.
He faces 20th seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia & Montenegro, who withstood a strong challenge from American Mardy Fish to record a 7-6 6-4 3-6 7-6 triumph.
Number 25 Richard Gasquet won an all-French matchup with Gilles Simon, 6-0 6-2 6-3 but countryman Sebastien Grosjean - the 30th seed - was ousted by Germany's Benjamin Becker.
