Andre Agassi began his run as the oldest top-seeded player in the Open era by beating Alex Corretja of Spain 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 Tuesday in the first round of the US Open.
"It's a weird feeling. You just sort of expect to leave the dance with the ones you came with. When they decide that it's time for them, it's a sad feeling," the 33-year-old Agassi said.
"I'm certainly proud to still be doing this, this long and at this level."
PHOTO: AFP
At 20, fellow American Andy Roddick is just getting started, and he looked pretty impressive in handling Tim Henman of Britain 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3.
"In my opinion, he's playing better than anyone in the world right now. That's stating the obvious," Henman said. "He is going to be tough to beat. He's so confident right now. He's got such a big game, and he's using it very well."
It was a matchup worthy of Week 2 at a major rather than Day 2, but four-time Wimbledon semifinalist Henman missed two months after shoulder surgery in February and has slipped to 34th in the rankings.
PHOTO: EPA
Michael Chang lost his final match as a pro Tuesday at the US Open in a far more muted farewell than Pete Sampras' retirement announcement the night before.
While Sampras waited a year after his last match -- beating Agassi in the 2002 US Open final -- to tell the world he was finished, Chang has been on a farewell tour since the beginning of the season and made clear the Open would be it for him.
And unlike the half-hour tribute to Sampras replete with a choir and speeches, there was no big celebration of Chang's career Tuesday, although the US Tennis Association has talked with him about doing something next week.
Only a few thousand fans were on hand for the start of his match against No. 15-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, but, as always, Chang gave it his all.
"On court, it would be nice to be able to be remembered as a person that gave his best -- win, lose or draw," said Chang, whose career highlight was winning the 1989 French Open at age 17. "It's going to be tough leaving tennis."
He had his chances against Gonzalez, and produced a few top-notch shots, but in the end succumbed to the Chilean's all-out power game 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was eliminated 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (1) by Russian-born qualifier Dmitry Tursunov, who now lives in the US. In the sixth game of the last set, action was delayed for a few minutes while a heckler was removed by security at Kuerten's request. Winners included Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuettler of Germany, No. 11 Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, two-time major champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia and 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa of Spain.
Three other seeded men lost: No. 21 Spaniard Felix Mantilla -- ousted by Ivo Karlovic, the 6-foot-10 Croatian who stunned Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon -- No. 29 Feliciano Lopez of Spain and No. 32 Vince Spadea of the US.
Among the women, three-time major winner Jennifer Capriati of the US needed just 35 minutes to reach the second round, overpowering Cristina Torrens Valero of Spain 6-0, 6-1.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium started off with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Aniko Kapros of Hungary, a qualifier who upset her in the first round at Roland Garros last year. Others advancing included No. 7 Anastasia Myskina and 2000 semifinalist Elena Dementieva, both of Russia, while No. 10 Magdalena Maleeva, No. 16 Elena Bovina, No. 21 Anna Pistolesi, and No. 31 Alexandra Stevenson were the seeded women who left early.
Chang used to be among highly seeded players, reaching No. 2 in the rankings. He would have made it to No. 1 had he beaten Sampras in the 1996 US Open final.
But now, at 31, he's a step slower, and can't get to the shots he used to. He won just two of 12 matches this year.
Still, Chang showed plenty of fire Tuesday. He rocked back on his heels and pumped his arms repeatedly after a backhand passing winner down the line in the first game of the second set against Gonzalez. He whipped his racket behind his back on the run to win one exchange, and yelled, "Yes!" when a second straight double-fault by Gonzalez landed wide to hand Chang the third set.
Agassi, meanwhile, looks to be on top of his game.
Maybe it's because of his rigorous training, including plenty of running up hills. Perhaps it's his style of play. Or it simply could be that he saved some energy during a midcareer crisis, when he tumbled out of the top 100 and wound up resorting to minor league tournaments to work his way back.
Regardless, Agassi is outlasting other members of his age group -- and outplaying most of the younger set, too. He's 40-7 in 2003 with four titles, including his eighth major in January at the Australian Open, tying for sixth most in history.
Never before had a man his age risen to No. 1 in the ATP Tour computer rankings.
"For me, I have to answer that question a lot: `Is this still what I want to be doing?' I ask it every day, one way or another," Agassi said. "I have a strong sense of obligation to this game for everything it's given to me.''
He watched the ceremony honoring Sampras on television Monday night, and walked out on court at Arthur Ashe Stadium right after Chang departed.
Against Corretja, twice a French Open finalist, Agassi crafted a 36-16 edge in winners. Agassi faced just three break points, saving each -- one with a running forehand winner, and two when the Spaniard shanked shots on a windy afternoon.
Corretja was ranked No. 2 in 1999, but now is 102nd, and he couldn't do much to slow Agassi.
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