Agassi speeds past Clavet

Agassi found the conditions in Arizona to his liking

Click here for Tuesday's results

Andre Agassi avenged a pair of defeats as he outclassed defending champion Francisco Clavet of Spain 6-3 6-2 in the first round of the Scottsdale Classic on Tuesday.

But German second seed Tommy Haas was less fortunate, losing 6-2 6-7 6-3 to Spaniard Carlos Moya.

Unseeded Swiss player Michel Kratochvil overcame fourth-seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina 6-3 3-6 6-3 in another upset.

Top seed Agassi has won the hardcourt event three times, but the former world number one has been beaten by Spain's Clavet twice in a row.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion avoided a third loss, however, with a sparkling 67-minute sweep.

Pleased

"It's an amazing thing to play somebody three consecutive years at the same tournament," said Agassi, who was stunned by Clavet in the second round in 2000 and the first last year.

With just one hour of practice to make adjustments to the high-altitude conditions, Agassi was pleased to progress so easily.

Tommy Haas is not happy with his form

"I felt a lot more comfortable than I thought I would on my groundstrokes," said Agassi who now faces Britain's Greg Rusedski in the second round.

"I controlled the ball really well. And, I thought I could step up and be aggressive. I was pretty comfortable from the start."

Clavet was up for the challenge, but a sprained left ankle and Agassi's punishing ground game kept the 33-year-old off-balance most of the time.

Haas, who has been bothered by a shoulder injury, put his loss to Moya down to a lack of match practice in recent weeks.

"I was up 2-1 in the third and played a (very) poor game. I never really found my timing on the serve but that's no excuse."

The first round was completed when third seed Pete Sampras overpowered Zimbabwe's Byron Black 6-1 6-2 in just 44 minutes.

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Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic: Tuesday's first round results:

1-A Agassi (US) bt F Clavet (Spa) 6-3 6-2
C Moya (Spa) bt 2-T Haas (Ger) 6-2 6-7 (7/2) 6-3
M Kratochvil (Swi) bt 4-G Canas (Arg) 6-3 3-6 6-3
F Vicente (Spa) bt M Zabaleta (Arg) 5-7 6-3 6-4
N Okun (Isr) bt F Meligeni (Bra) 7-6 (8/6) 6-4
J-I Chela (Arg) bt R Ginepri (US) 5-7 7-6 (8/6) 6-4
R Schuettler (Ger) bt 8-S Schalken (Ned) 6-4 2-6 6-2
3-P Sampras (US) bt B Black (Zim) 6-1 6-2

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