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US Open: Classy Agassi in third round clash with Kafelnikov
New York, Aug 29: World number one Andre Agassi dispatched stubborn Swedish southpaw Andreas Vinciguerra 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 6-4 here to book a third-round US Open date against a familiar foe -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
New York, Aug 29: World number one Andre Agassi dispatched stubborn Swedish southpaw Andreas Vinciguerra 7-6 (7/1) 6-1 6-4 here to book a third-round US Open date against a familiar foe -- Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
Vinciguerra, ranked 92nd, was playing only his second hardcourt match since February. But he tested Agassi in the first set and dueled him through seven deuces in the seventh game of the final set before giving up a service break yesterday.
"He was hitting his shots effectively," Agassi said. "I was being solid with my game but it wasn't good enough. I had to step up my game and pick up my shots. Once I settled down I hit my shots a lot cleaner."
Eight-time grand slam champion Agassi, at 33 the oldest man here and ever to be ranked number one, has only failed to reach the US Open's fourth round once since 1993, but knows he will be tested Saturday by the 28th-ranked Russian.
"We both will try to control the baseline," Agassi said. "He controls points and knows how to win. I have to take it seriously. I have to be on him from the get if I'm going to win.
"Y-man, he's a talented player. His career speaks for itself."
Kafelnikov, who turns 30 in February, won the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open but has struggled to a 26-21 record this season and has not gone past the third round of a slam since a semi-final run here in 2001.
Bureau Report
Vinciguerra, ranked 92nd, was playing only his second hardcourt match since February. But he tested Agassi in the first set and dueled him through seven deuces in the seventh game of the final set before giving up a service break yesterday.
"He was hitting his shots effectively," Agassi said. "I was being solid with my game but it wasn't good enough. I had to step up my game and pick up my shots. Once I settled down I hit my shots a lot cleaner."
Eight-time grand slam champion Agassi, at 33 the oldest man here and ever to be ranked number one, has only failed to reach the US Open's fourth round once since 1993, but knows he will be tested Saturday by the 28th-ranked Russian.
"We both will try to control the baseline," Agassi said. "He controls points and knows how to win. I have to take it seriously. I have to be on him from the get if I'm going to win.
"Y-man, he's a talented player. His career speaks for itself."
Kafelnikov, who turns 30 in February, won the 1996 French Open and 1999 Australian Open but has struggled to a 26-21 record this season and has not gone past the third round of a slam since a semi-final run here in 2001.
Bureau Report