Eight-time grand-slam champion Andre Agassi launched his 20th United States Open campaign with a swift straight-set victory over Romanian Razvan Sabau on Monday, to the delight of New York fans.
Agassi, the seventh seed, took just 69 minutes to close out a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 victory over Sabau as he got his 59th grand-slam appearance under way.
He posted his 72nd career US Open victory, and with one more he will tie Ivan Lendl for second place on the tournament’s all-time list.
As has become his custom, he bowed and blew kisses to the fans in thanks for their vocal support.
”I was pretty nervous, so it took me a while to settle in,” he said. ”Everybody here has taken a day out of their lives to come and watch me, so I just thank them.”
French Open champion Rafael Nadal, seeking his second career grand-slam title, eased into the second round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over US wild card Bobby Reynolds.
Nadal, the second seed, admitted the sensation of playing a featured first-round match on the massive Arthur Ashe Stadium court was a far cry from his previous low-key US Open appearances.
”Of course it’s different,” he said. ”The last two years when I was coming here, I was playing very, very bad. Now it’s a little bit different.”
Indeed, the 19-year-old has established himself as a bona fide sensation. His nine titles in 2005 — including the French Open — tie him with top seed and defending champion Roger Federer, the man he pushed to the brink in Miami back in April before succumbing in the final of that hard-court Masters Series event.
Nadal has since captured his first career hard-court crown, downing Agassi in the final in Montreal two weeks ago.
”I know if I am playing well, I can win a lot of matches on this surface,” he said.
Federer, who will open his campaign against Czech Ivo Minar on Tuesday, took an extended break after capturing the Wimbledon title to rest and recover from a painful foot ailment.
His return was a triumph at the Cincinnati Masters in August, where he beat American Andy Roddick.
Fourth-seeded American Andy Roddick, who lost to Federer in the Wimbledon final and hurt his own foot in losing to Federer in Cincinnati, was to anchor the night session on Tuesday against Luxembourt’s Gilles Muller.
Sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko was also slated for action on Tuesday, along with Britons Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. — Sapa-AFP