MELBOURNE, Australia - Andre Agassi lost his final tuneup for the Australian Open, falling 6-2, 6-3 to David Nalbandian on Saturday in the title match of the Commonwealth Bank International.
Nalbandian, who upset top-ranked Andy Roddick on Friday, broke Agassi four times and applied constant pressure in the match at Kooyong, former site of the Australian Open.
Roddick, citing foot blisters, withdrew from a consolation match against Roger Federer. Federer beat Alex Corretja 7-5, 6-2 in an exhibition.
The 33-year-old Agassi, who is seeking his ninth Grand Slam title and fifth Australian Open crown, was hurt by his first serve.
After appearing in midseason form while beating Federer on Friday, he consistently missed winners by inches on a blustery day. Nalbandian relies heavily on speed and court coverage.
"I was sort of pressing in a lot of parts of my game today. I was pretty lucky to get the five games I got," Agassi said. "Today was a tough day, no question. I felt I played well. He played well on the big shots. I found myself admiring some."
In the Federer-Corretja match, Corretja trailed 4-0 in the second set and hit what appeared to be a winner. But Federer made a lunging backhand pickup that barely dropped over for a point.
A disbelieving Corretja stared briefly, then turned his back to Federer and pulled down his shorts, showing his underwear. Federer was laughing so hard he delayed the next point.
ADIDAS INTERNATIONAL: In Sydney, top-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne beat third-seeded Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-4 in the championship. The 21-year-old Belgian, playing in her first Sydney final, was too steady for Mauresmo, champion here in 2000. Henin-Hardenne's 1-hour, 27-minute victory gave her 15 WTA Tour singles titles.
While Henin-Hardenne reached the final after Lindsay Davenport withdrew Friday with a right shoulder strain, Mauresmo played her semifinal just hours before the championship. She defeated unseeded Francesca Schiavone 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in a match delayed by rain.
CANBERRA CLASSIC: Top-seeded Paola Suarez won the title, beating second-seeded Silvia Farina Elia 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). The match ended in controversy when umpire John Blom overruled a linesman to call Farina Elia's ball out on match point.
ARREST: Sheriff's deputies arrested a man accused of shooting to death the half-sister of Venus and Serena Williams last year. Robert Maxfield, 23, was booked for investigation of first-degree murder in connection with the Sept. 14 shooting of 31-year-old Yetunde Price. He was being held at the sheriff's Norwalk, Calif., station without bail, Deputy Rick Bavouset said. The arrest comes several days after a warrant was issued for Maxfield's arrest.
