Awesome Agassi and Mauresmo score impressive victories
MELBOURNE, Jan 21: Andre Agassi underlined his intentions for a fifth Australian Open crown on Wednesday at the same time that Amelie Mauresmo raised her hopes of a maiden Grand Slam.
Agassi and Mauresmo, both seeded fourth, hammered their way into the third round of the opening grand slam of the year in sweltering conditions at Melbourne Park.
They were joined by top seeds Andy Roddick and Justine Henin-Hardenne, who wasted little time advancing. Roddick flashed past Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-2 6-2 6-3 and Henin-Hardenne ousted French qualifier Camille Pin 6-1 6-4.
Daniela Hantuchova, however, bowed out after another dismal defeat. The Slovakian 15th seed lost 6-4 6-3 to local favourite Alicia Molik. France's Mauresmo smashed Ludmila Cervanova 6-0 6-2 before saying that the absence of past champions Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati meant she feels she could go one better than her runner's-up spot in 1999.
On Wednesday she played superbly, overwhelming the 64th-ranked Slovakian in a one-sided match lasting 44 minutes. Agassi will be hoping he can continue "going like this" after a commanding 6-0 6-2 6-4 defeat of Czech qualifier Tomas Berdych.
It took the four-times champion 82 minutes to wrap up his 23rd consecutive win at Melbourne Park, having lifted the title in 2000-01 and 2003. Injury kept him out of the 2002 tournament.
Agassi also won the Open on his first trip to Melbourne Park in 1995 and now rues the nine years at the beginning of his career that he stayed away. "I wish I had played here every opportunity I had," the 33-year-old said. "Apart from the fact that this place has been so amazing for my career, I just enjoy being here so much."
Determined to make up for lost time, Agassi always comes to Melbourne in perfect physical shape, and his performances in his first two matches mark him out once again as a strong favourite.
Roddick, coached by Agassi's former mentor Brad Gilbert, looks to have adopted something of Agassi's fitness regime. He also appears in fantastic shape and is playing with great confidence.
"I think the biggest difference is when I don't feel like I'm playing that well, I still kind of have an underlying confidence," he said. "That's the main difference."
Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten reached the third round for the first time, ending a miserable run at Melbourne Park. Until Wednesday's 7-5 6-7 6-4 6-3 victory over Ivan Ljubicic, the Brazilian had endured five second-round losses and two defeats in the first round here.
Marat Safin, runner-up in 2002, conquered his emotions to beat Finland's Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-4 in a pulsating encounter at Melbourne Park. Lindsay Davenport also advanced but not without a little difficulty. The only former women's champion in the draw, the American beat France's Emilie Loit 6-3 3-6 6-0.
Men's singles (Second Round)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) bt Galo Blanco (SPA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3;
Nicolas Escude (FRA) bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4;
Todd Martin (USA) bt Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (9/7);
