Agassi advances over Bjorkman

Andre Agassi of the US returns to Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden during their second-round match at the ATP Rogers Cup Masters tennis tournament on Wednesday at the Uniprix Stadium in Montreal, Canada. PHOTO: AP

Three-time champion Andre Agassi defeated Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden on Wednesday to advance to the third round of the Montreal Masters tennis tournament.

The 35-year-old Agassi, seeded fourth and seeking his first victory in Canada since 1995, advanced to face Nicolas Kiefer of Germany in the round of 16 yesterday with his 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Kiefer, a semifinalist last year, beat Taylor Dent of the US 6-4, 6-4.

"That'll be a tough match," Agassi said. "These are tough conditions -- quick courts, wind. He's a quick-court player. He uses the pace really well and moves the ball around. I'll have my hands full."

Agassi improved to 5-0 against Bjorkman. He has eight Grand Slam titles and 60 wins overall in his 19-year pro career, while Bjorkman has nine tournament titles in 15 years. They are two of the oldest players in the draw.

"There's a lot to like about playing against someone you've known and played against a long time," Agassi said.

"There's a lot of mutual respect just for doing it for so long. There's so many faces you don't recognize anymore, to play against someone you know makes it that much more comfortable," he said.

A long rain delay couldn't stop Rafael Nadal of Spain as the top seed romped to a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Brazil's Ricardo Mello.

Nadal, back to his fist-pumping self after a subdued opening-round win over friend and mentor Carlos Moya, advanced to a third-round meeting with Sebastien Grosjean, who upset his 15th-seeded French compatriot Richard Gasquet 7-6 (5), 6-3.

The 19-year-old Nadal, who has eight tournaments wins this year -- all on clay courts -- is looking for his first career hardcourt victory.

"I think I don't play bad on fast courts," he said. "If I'm playing well, I can play good on this surface."

Former French Open champ Gaston Gaudio of Argentina broke Danish veteran Kenneth Carlsen in the last game to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. And Montreal-born Greg Rusedski of Britain downed Max Mirnyi of Belarus 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) in a battle of big servers.

"I know, it's been a while," said Rusedski, whose 1995 decision to play for the UK seems to have been forgotten by the welcoming center court crowd that once booed him.

"I'm really pleased to be through. It's been two tough matches," Rusedski said.

Olivier Rochus of Belgium advanced when Swede Robin Soderling retired with a right ankle injury in the third set of their second-round match. Rochus was leading 6-2, 6-7 (2-7), 5-2.

It was a gusty, rainy day in which play was halted twice by rain and lightning.

Sebastien Grosjean, trailing 3-5 in the opening set when the rain halted play for two-and-a-half hours, came back when play resumed to beat 15th-seeded French compatriot Rochard Gasquet 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.