Agassi begins hardcourt farewell

Agassi is the defending champion

Andre Agassi has begun his final summer hardcourt season at the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles with a 7-6 6-0 victory over Xavier Malisse.

The 36-year-old American tennis great has announced that he will retire after this year's US Open.

"I'm still out there with a competitive spirit," said Agassi after seeing off Malisse in 110F degree heat.

"I'm looking forward to this summer and in some regards I'm in denial about it being my last summer out here."

He added: "I'm aware of how life's going to change and I'm out there wanting it to last as long and as good as possible."

Agassi, the fifth seed, is the defending champion at the $500,000 event and has won it four times.

Earlier, third seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile and Russian eighth seed Dmitry Tursunov moved into the second round by winning a pair of tiebreakers.

Gonzalez beat Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) and Tursunov defeated Thailand's Danai Udomchoke, 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4).