NEW YORK, Sept 1: Andre Agassi, 36 years old and burdened by a bad back, extended his career for at least one more match by winning a thriller over eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 at the U.S. Open.

Agassi, buoyed by a cortisone injection and the raucous, sellout crowd, traded stinging strokes for nearly four hours as Thursday night became Friday.

In the end it was the 21-year-old Baghdatis who broke down physically, his body contorted by cramps in both thighs during an eight-deuce, four-break-point game that Agassi eventually held to lead 5-4 in the fifth set.

Later, Baghdatis used the chair umpire's stand to stretch his aching legs.

Agassi was still hustling to reach seemingly unreachable shots, responding with winners, and skipping out to the baseline to start games at his record 21st consecutive Open — one for each year of Baghdatis' life.

When it was over, they shook hands at the net, then embraced. And Agassi was quick to thank the 23,700 or so fans who enjoyed quite a ride at Flushing Meadows.

Baghdatis reached across the net and tapped Agassi on the heart as they walked off to a roaring, standing ovation.

Now comes this third-round matchup: Agassi vs. Becker. A classic right?

Well, not quite. It's Benjamin Becker (no relation to Boris), a 25-year-old qualifier from Germany who's ranked 112th and has won zero tour titles. Becker knocked off No. 30 Sebastien Grosjean in straight sets.

Get past that, and Agassi could face Andy Roddick.

Hingis, the five-time Grand Slam champion back on tour after a three-year retirement, was upset 6-2, 6-4 by 112th-ranked Razzano.

Hingis came into the day with a 44-14 mark this season, with none of the losses to anyone ranked lower than 23rd. Ten of her setbacks came against women who've won major championships.

The day featured blowouts on the women's side — eighth-seeded Martina Hingis fell to Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano. Maria Sharapova and former Open champions Lindsay Davenport, Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia all breezed.

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France and Serena Williams also advanced.

There weren't many tough tests in the men's draw, although No. 27-seeded Gael Monfils lost to Wesley Moodie, and two-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal dropped a set before getting past Luis Horna.

Thursday’s results:

Mens singles

Second round: Tommy Robredo (6), Spain, def. Lee Hyung-taik, South Korea, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1; Stanislas Wawrinka, Switzerland, def. Robin Soderling, Sweden, 6-7 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (4), 6-0, 6-1; Fernando Verdasco (22), Spain, def. Thiago Alves, Brazil, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-1; Rafael Nadal (2), Spain, def. Luis Horna, Peru, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Richard Gasquet (25), France, def. Gilles Simon, France, 6-0, 6-2, 6-3; David Ferrer (11), Spain, def. Justin Gimelstob, United States, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1; Xavier Malisse, Belgium, def. Bjorn Phau, Germany, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2; Lleyton Hewitt (15), Australia, def. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2; Marco Chiudinelli, Switzerland, def. Feliciano Lopez, Spain, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Wesley Moodie, South Africa, def. Gael Monfils (27), France, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4); Novak Djokovic (20), Serbia, def. Mardy Fish, United States, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3); Benjamin Becker, Germany, def. Sebastien Grosjean (30), France, 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-2; Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, def. Nicolas Massu, Chile, 5-7, 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3, 6-0; Jiri Novak, Czech Republic, def. Paradorn Srichaphan, Thailand, 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Andre Agassi, United States, def. Marcos Baghdatis (8), Cyprus, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5

Women singles:

Second round: Lindsay Davenport (10), United States, def. Jelena Kostanic, Croatia, 6-0, 6-0; Svetlana Kuznetsova (6), Russia, def. Lauren Albanese, United States, 6-1, 6-1; Jelena Jankovic (19), Serbia, def. Kirsten Flipkens, Belgium, 6-2, 6-3; Marion Bartoli (26), France, def. Varvara Lepchenko, Uzbekistan, 6-1, 6-2; Maria Kirilenko (20), Russia, def. Severine Bremond, France, 6-2, 6-3; Anastassia Rodionova, Russia, def. Zheng Jie (29), China, 7-5, 6-3; Nicole Vaidisova (9), Czech Republic, def. Alina Jidkova, Russia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Francesca Schiavone (14), Italy, def. Sania Mirza, India, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2; Shahar Peer (21), Israel, def. Martina Muller, Germany, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Justine Henin-Hardenne (2), Belgium, def. Vania King, United States, 6-1, 6-2; Patty Schnyder (7), Switzerland, def. Sofia Arvidsson, Sweden, 6-3, 7-5; Aravane Rezai, France, def. Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, 7-6 (3), 2-6, 6-4; Mara Santangelo, Italy, def. Sybille Bammer, Austria, 6-3, 6-1; Anna Chakvetadze (23), Russia, def. Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine, 7-6 (6), 6-0. Jarmila Gajdosova, Slovakia, def. Viktoriya Kutuzova, Ukraine, 6-3, 7-6 (5); Elena Dementieva (4), Russia, def. Emma Laine, Finland, 6-4, 6-0. Dinara Safina (12), Russia, def. Yuliana Fedak, Ukraine, 6-3, 6-4; Ai Sugiyama (28), Japan, def. Tathiana Garbin, Italy, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2; Nadia Petrova (5), Russia, def. Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain, 6-1, 6-1; Vera Zvonareva (33), Russia, def. Jill Craybas, United States, 6-3, 7-5; Katarina Srebotnik (22),

Slovenia, def. Ekaterina Bychkova, Russia, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Serena Williams, United States, def. Daniela Hantuchova (17), Slovakia, 7-5, 6-3; Elena Likhovtseva (32), Russia, def. Nicole Pratt, Australia, 6-3, 6-2; Maria Sharapova (3), Russia, def. Emilie Loit, France, 6-0, 6-1; Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, def. Jamea Jackson, United States, 6-3, 6-2; Tatiana Golovin (27), France, def. Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland, 6-4, 6-3; Li Na (24), China, def. Eleni Daniilidou, Greece, 6-0, 1-6, 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo (1), France, def. Meghann Shaughnessy, United States, 6-4, 6-3; Kaia Kanepi, Estonia, def. Youlia Fedossova, France, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; Mary Pierce (13), France, def. Eva Birnerova, Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4; Ana Ivanovic (16), Serbia, def. Aiko Nakamura, Japan, 7-5, 6-3; Virginie Razzano, France, def. Martina Hingis (8), Switzerland, 6-2, 6-4.—Agencies