Tennis

Bigger, harder falls to cautious, clever

Shorter, older mean nothing to Andre Agassi in Open win No. 73.

NEW YORK - Size doesn't matter in tennis.

Neither does age.

Andre Agassi stood 11 inches shorter than 6-foot-10 Croatian Ivo Karlovic, spun serves about 50 mph slower and logged far fewer miles on court.

The ace count went to Karlovic 30-5 as he clocked serves consistently in the 130-142 mph range, but the second-round victory at the U.S. Open on Thursday went to Agassi 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4).

At 35, nine years older than the gangling giant across the net, Agassi came up bigger on the big points to continue his run for one more Grand Slam title in his 20th visit to the Open. Agassi's win against Karlovic was his 73rd at the Open, tying him with Ivan Lendl for second in the Open era behind Jimmy Connors' 98.

Agassi, seeded No. 7, couldn't equal Karlovic's power and didn't care. Rather, he settled for cleverness and steadiness, taking advantage of the Croatian's weak backhand and awkward lateral movement. No one on the ATP Tour likes to play against the No. 56-ranked Karlovic, Agassi had said before playing him for the first time, because his serves come down from an unfamiliar trajectory, as if coming from the roof.

"It's an incredible serve," Agassi said. "I'm trying to figure out where it is I would need to stand on the court to have the same trajectory."

Agassi swung and swished at some serves and stared helplessly as many others sped by. Each time he walked calmly to the other side, waiting for the ones he could get a racket on, trying to get Karlovic to play on different terms in rallies. There Agassi had the advantage.

Agassi served mostly in the 80-90 mph range in the wind and played with extra caution in this match, not going for too much against Karlovic.

Agassi's wariness was particularly raised after watching No. 4 Andy Roddick fall in three tiebreakers in the first round against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller. Muller's luck and poise didn't hold in the second round as he was beaten 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 by American doubles partner Robby Ginepri.

"It's good to beat Roddick," Muller said. "But then if you play in the next round ... like I did today, it doesn't change anything."

No. 13 Richard Gasquet advanced when Giorgio Galimberti retired in the fourth set with an injury. Sebastien Grosjean beat No. 14 Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, and No. 19 Tommy Robredo knocked out former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-2.

In women's matches, No. 2 Lindsay Davenport, No. 3 Amelie Mauresmo, No. 6 Elena Dementieva, No. 7 Justine Henin-Hardenne, No. 12 Mary Pierce, No. 13 Anastasia Myskina, No. 15 Nathalie Dechy, No. 17 Jelena Jankovic, No. 19 Elena Likhovtseva, No. 23 Tatiana Golovin and No. 24 Shinobu Asagoe won in straight sets.

HURRICANE RELIEF: The U.S. Tennis Association will donate $500,000 from U.S. Open proceeds to the American Red Cross for affected communities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Commercials devoted to the relief effort will be aired during Open broadcasts, and public service announcements will be made on the grounds of the National Tennis Center. Fans attending the Open can make donations beginning today.

The two players associations - the WTA Tour and ATP - said their members are donating autographed tennis equipment, apparel and memorabilia for an auction to aid victims.

"It's a tragedy, it's terrible," Agassi said. "I hope there's something I can do. I'll be a part of anything that might make a difference."

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]