27 October 2004	Wednesday	12 Ramazan 1425

STOCKHOM, Oct 26: Andre Agassi returned to Sweden on Tuesday as top seed at the 632,750-euros Stockholm Open and wasted little time in preparing to make a run at next month's season-wrap up Masters Cup.

The American icon is one of six men battling to grab one of four places remaining in the eight-man year-ender in Houston. He stands provisional eighth and could close to within 15 points of his next rival, Briton Tim Henman, with success this week at the Kungligahallen.

It's the 34-year-old's first time here since 1994, when he reached the quarter-finals. He admitted that in the intervening decade, much has changed - for the tournament and himself.

Agassi is due to open Wednesday evening against Belgian Kristof Vliegen, with the winner to meet one of two big hitters, Swede Jonas Bjorkman or Australian Wayne Arthurs.

The veteran holder of eight Grand Slam trophies reaffirmed his decision to play through in 2005 as he nears two decades of service - most spent near the top of the sport. "I'm very clear about the fact that I want to play next year. I'll give it a chance."

In first round play, number 4 Tommy Haas and fifth seed Feliciano Lopez won through.

Haas earned a third career win against Italian qualifier Davide Sanguinetti 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 while this month's Vienna champion Lopez of Spain stopped American Jeff Morrison 7-6 (7-5), 7-5.

Qualifiers took split decisions, with Janko Tipsarevic putting out seventh seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 but Johan Settergren of Sweden losing to Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-2.

First round results:

Olivier Rochus (Belgium) bat Johan Settergren (Sweden) 6-3 6-2; -Feliciano Lopez (Spain) bt Jeff Morrison (U.S.) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5; Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia & Montenegro) bt Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 3-6 7-5 6-1.

ST PETERSBURG RESULTS

SAINT PETERSBURG: Results from the second day of the US$1m Saint Petersburg Open ATP tennis on Tuesday:

First round: Max Mirnyi (BLR) bt Ricardo Mello (BRA) 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/2); Ivo Karlovic (CRO) bt Dominik Hrbaty (SVK) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-4; Gilles Muller (LUX) bt Igor Andreyev (RUS) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Alex Corretja (SPA) bt Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-4, 6-2; Greg Rusedski (GBR) bt Marc Rosset (SWI) 6-4, 6-3; Michael Llodra (FRA) bt Michail Elgin (RUS) 6-2, 6-2.-Agencies