Rusedski ousts third seed Ferrero

Kratochvil was a surprise winner over Andre Agassi

Click here for Tuesday's men's first round results

British number two Greg Rusedski completed an impressive straight sets victory over third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters.

Rusedski won 6-4 6-3 against the Spaniard to go through to the second round in California.

The British left-hander hammered 16 aces, getting 83% of his first serves in.

"I don't think I've ever served 83% in a match before," said a thrilled Rusedski afterwards.

I never quite got settled into my game

Andre Agassi

"Sixteen aces and no double faults...that's a very satisfying match."

Rusedski's display was all the more remarkable given that he was sidelined by flu prior to the event.

The British player has now won all three of his career meetings with Ferrero and will face Frenchman Julien Boutter in the second round.

Defending champion and fourth seed Andre Agassi lost 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (8/6) to Switzerland's unseeded Michel Kratochvil in two tie-break sets.

The 31-year-old American arrived in Indian Wells on the back of winning his 50th career title on Sunday in Scottsdale.

But he soon looked weary on another scorching day in the Palm Desert and committed uncharacteristic errors.

Agassi looked fatigued during the match

"I don't think there always has to be an excuse," said Agassi of the loss afterwards.

"I think I've played better matches in the last few weeks than I did today.

"I never quite got settled into my game but it had a lot to do with the way he was hitting the ball."

Kratochvil, who had not advanced beyond the first round in his previous three events and is nine years Agassi's junior, chased down every shot.

It was only the second loss of the season for Agassi, after an aborted start to the campaign pulling out of the Australian Open with a wrist injury.

Agassi has only lost six sets this season, all in tie-breaks.

He saved one match point at 6-5 in the second-set tie-breaker with a service winner.

But he gave Kratochvil another with a backhand cross-court wide, and the 22-year-old Swiss sealed the victory after an hour and 57 minutes with a backhand down the line.

But Goran Ivanisevic was forced to withdraw because of a shoulder injury, with his place in the draw going to Mariano Zabaleta.

However Zabaleta lost in straight sets to Rainer Schuttler.

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Men's first round results:

Greg Rusedski (GB) bt (3) Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa) 6-4 6-3
Marcelo Rios (Chi) bt Ivan Ljubicic (Cro) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5
Karol Kucera (Svk) bt (17) Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) 6-2 6-3
Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg) bt Max Mirnyi (Blr) 4-6 6-2 7-5
Albert Costa (Spa) bt Bohdan Ulihrach (Cze) 6-1 3-6 6-3
(13) Jiri Novak (Cze) bt Olivier Rochus (Bel) 5-7 7-5 6-2
Michel Kratochvil (Swi) bt (4) Andre Agassi (USA) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (8-6)
Rainer Schuttler (Ger) bt Mariano Zabaleta (Arg) 6-2 6-1
Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) bt James Blake (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-2
Todd Martin (USA) bt Wayne Arthurs (Aus) 6-1 7-6 (7/4)

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