[News]Agassi wins; Srichaphan, Schalken lose in 2nd round
Agassi wins; Srichaphan, Schalken lose at Mercedes-Benz Cup
By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
July 16, 2004
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Andre Agassi defeated Julien Benneteau
7-6 (4), 6-2 in the Mercedes-Benz Cup on Thursday night, making
him one of only two remaining seeded players to reach the quarterfinals.
Agassi has won 21 of 22 matches at the tournament, including titles
in 1998, 2001 and 2002. His only loss in that span was to Pete Sampras
in the 1999 final.
He blew a 4-2 lead in the first set, being broken right after
he earned the match's first service break. Frenchman Benneteau
forced the tiebreaker when Agassi's forehand sailed long to make it
6-all.
Agassi raced to a 6-2 lead in the tiebreaker before dropping two
straight points. But Benneteau hit a backhand wide to lose
the tiebreaker 7-4.
``I just had to hang in there and make sure I was dictating play,''
said Agassi, who skipped Wimbledon because of a hip injury.
``I'm moving considerably better. If the last two matches are any
indication, it's some great signs. I need to be moving good to
play against these guys.''
Benneteau, who beat Mark Philippoussis in the first round,
noticed Agassi moved better as the match went on in front of
a sellout crowd of 6,872 at UCLA.
``The start of the second set he was more aggressive and it was
very hard to stay at that level,'' Benneteau said. ``When he leads,
it's very hard to come back. Against him, we are all under pressure.''
Agassi is 16-7 this year, but hasn't won a title since last year
in Houston. He has a busy schedule leading up to the U.S. Open
beginning Aug. 30, barring any more hip problems.
``A guy like me can't have many plans these days,'' he said.
``I don't what I can count on.''
Agassi and third-seeded Mardy Fish were the only remaining seeded
players after Paradorn Srichaphan and Sjeng Schalken were beaten
Thursday, when Fish was idle.
The upsets in the second round were pulled off by two players
outside the top 100 on the ATP Tour.
Jeff Morrison, 107th in the world, defeated second-seeded Srichaphan
7-5, 6-4. Wesley Moodie, a South African who is 143rd, beat
fifth-seeded Schalken 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-5.
``It's a testament to the depth in men's tennis these days,''
Morrison said. ``Anything can happen on any given day out here.
Whether you're ranked one or 100, you know you got a chance and
the other guy has a chance. There's no freebies out here anymore.''
Tommy Haas defeated Kenneth Carlsen 6-2, 6-0 and advanced to a
quarterfinal match against Agassi on Friday.
The upsets by Morrison and Moodie ensured there are no seeded players
left in the bottom half of the draw. They will meet Friday.
Morrison, who got into the tournament as a wild card, served 18 aces
against Srichaphan.
``He was playing great, especially his service game,''
said Srichaphan, who surprised defending champion Wayne Ferreira
in the first round. ``He was pushing me from corner to corner.''
Morrison faced just one break point in the match, and he responded
with an ace.
``I was very relaxed and confident with my serve,'' he said.
``It's the reason I won. I've beaten a lot of guys ranked inside
the top 25. Now I just need to string a few together.''
Schalken, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist, was playing Moodie for the
first time. The match between the 6-foot-4 Schalken and 6-5 Moodie
dragged on for just over two hours in the midday heat and humidity.
``It was hot, but my game was not hot,'' said Schalken, who rallied
for a 4-all tie in the third. ``My game is my footwork and I couldn't
find the rhythm in my legs. I was struggling from the first ball
to the last.''
Moodie has struggled to regain the form that landed him in the
top 100 last year. He fell at one point and bloodied his left knee.
``These are players I'd like to beat on a more regular basis,''
he said. ``I'm really happy and also a bit tired. I knew I was
playing well, I just had to keep at it.''
--
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