Rusedski's safe passage

Rusedski advances to the third round in Washington DC

British number two Greg Rusedski advanced to the third round of the Legg Mason Classic with a 6-4 7-6 win over Frenchman Julien Boutter on Wednesday.

The 12th seed will now face Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, who thrashed Alex Kim of America 6-0 6-1.

Rusedski lost his only previous meeting with Lapentti on the ATP Tour when going down 6-3 6-3 in Rome in 1999.

The way I'm playing, I'm looking forward to my matches and I haven't felt that in a while

  Marcelo Rios

But that defeat was on clay and the Canadian-born left-hander will be gunning for revenge on Washington DC's hardcourt surface.

Elsewhere, American Andre Agassi returned to winning ways with a comfortable 6-3 6-4 victory over Wayne Black of Zimbabwe.

Agassi, a five-time champion of this event and its top seed, entered the match against Black carrying a rare two-match losing streak.

But he ran Black all over the court and broke serve once in each set to take control of the match.

Earlier, his compatriot, Andy Roddick survived an error-strewn first set before beating Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 7-6 6-3.

Hrbaty joy

Chile's former world number one Marcelo Rios, beat a third American, Michael Joyce, 6-2 6-2.

"The way I'm playing, I'm looking forward to my matches and I haven't felt that in a while," injury-plagued Rios said afterwards.

"My backhand hasn't felt this good in a year and a half."

Joining him in the next round are fifth-seeded Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, who beat Anthony Dupuis of France 7-6 5-7 6-2 and Jan-Michael Gambill, who made short work of Felix Mantilla of Spain 6-3 6-1.