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Agassi denies Chang a final victory at Key Biscane
Key Biscayne (Florida), Mar 23: Andre Agassi of the United States opened his bid for a sixth title at Key Biscayne by beating countryman Michael Chang 6-4 6-2 at the Nasdaq-100 Open yesterday.
Key Biscayne (Florida), Mar 23: Andre Agassi of the United States opened his bid for a sixth title at Key Biscayne by beating countryman Michael Chang 6-4 6-2 at the Nasdaq-100 Open yesterday.
Showing no signs of the sore shoulder that forced him to skip Indian Wells earlier this month, Agassi smacked six aces and lost only 16 service points.
When Chang hit an errant forehand on match point, the two Americans removed their caps and shook hands at the net, perhaps for the final time. Chang plans to retire after the US Open.
In other men's matches, David Esanguinetti of Italy upset seventh-seeded Marat Safin of Russia 7-6 (9-7) 7-5, no. 4 Roger Federer, who lost to Agassi in last year's final, beat Luis Horna 6-2 7-5 and 14th-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands downed Jean-Rene Lisnard of France 6-3 6-4.
Second-seeded Venus Williams, the champion in 1998 and 1999, beat Shinobu Asagoe of Japan 6-3 6-1 and sixth-seeded Jennifer Capriati started slowly but topped Anastassia Rodionova of Russia 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
"The conditions are a little tough," Capriati said. "It's a little hot out there. I felt a little sluggish out there in the beginning. I don't think I played like my greatest tennis. I mean, I didn't have to, luckily."
Chang, who hasn't won a set against Agassi since 1996, couldn't muster the firepower to pull off an upset this time.
Bureau Report
Showing no signs of the sore shoulder that forced him to skip Indian Wells earlier this month, Agassi smacked six aces and lost only 16 service points.
When Chang hit an errant forehand on match point, the two Americans removed their caps and shook hands at the net, perhaps for the final time. Chang plans to retire after the US Open.
In other men's matches, David Esanguinetti of Italy upset seventh-seeded Marat Safin of Russia 7-6 (9-7) 7-5, no. 4 Roger Federer, who lost to Agassi in last year's final, beat Luis Horna 6-2 7-5 and 14th-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands downed Jean-Rene Lisnard of France 6-3 6-4.
Second-seeded Venus Williams, the champion in 1998 and 1999, beat Shinobu Asagoe of Japan 6-3 6-1 and sixth-seeded Jennifer Capriati started slowly but topped Anastassia Rodionova of Russia 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
"The conditions are a little tough," Capriati said. "It's a little hot out there. I felt a little sluggish out there in the beginning. I don't think I played like my greatest tennis. I mean, I didn't have to, luckily."
Chang, who hasn't won a set against Agassi since 1996, couldn't muster the firepower to pull off an upset this time.
Bureau Report