Agassi swansong still beats strong

US Open: Andre Agassi extended his illustrious career with a thrilling marathon victory over Marcos Baghdatis to reach the third…

US Open: Andre Agassi extended his illustrious career with a thrilling marathon victory over Marcos Baghdatis to reach the third round of the US Open.

Agassi, 36, rolled back the years to take a two-set lead before the Cypriot battled back to take the match into a final-set decider. Cramp in both legs looked like undermining the 21-year-old's challenge before he overcame the problem to take the match to the wire.

But Agassi, who will retire after this tournament, showed his experience to win it 6-4 6-4 3-6 5-7 7-5 and secure his place in the third round.

Rafael Nadal came through a terrific battle with Luis Horna to progress to round three. The Spaniard emerged from this classic encounter a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2 winner but the scoreline does not do Horna's efforts enough justice.

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In a truly absorbing second-round tie, packed full of long rallies and sublime winners from both players, Horna never gave up the fight and forced the number two seed to produce some stunning tennis which ultimately saw him through.

Tommy Robredo came from one set down to defeat Hyung-Taik Lee and reach the third round. The Korean produced flashes of brilliance and capitalised on Robredo's mistakes to take the first set 3-6 but the Spaniard came storming back to win the next three 6-3 6-4 6-1.

Robredo will now face Swiss player Stanislas Wawrinka, who rallied from two sets down to beat Swede Robin Soderling.

Lleyton Hewitt experienced few difficulties as he surged to a straight sets victory over Jan Hernych. The 15th seed made few mistakes as he defeated the Czech 6-4 6-2 6-2 to seal safe passage into the next round.

Hewitt now faces 20th seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia & Montenegro, who withstood a strong challenge from American Mardy Fish to record a 7-6 6-4 3-6 7-6 triumph.

Number 25 seed Richard Gasquet won an all-French matchup with Gilles Simon 6-0 6-2 6-3, but countryman Sebastien Grosjean - the 30th seed - was ousted by Germany's Benjamin Becker.

Justin Gimelstob failed to inspire the home crowd as he fell to a straight sets defeat to David Ferrer. The American was really no match for the 11th seed who sealed his place in the third round with a 6-2 6-4 6-1 triumph.

In the women's competition number eight seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland was stunned late on day four. The 1997 winner here, Hingis was ousted 6-2 6-4 by Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano. The Swiss Miss had few answers on the night and lost in just 64 minutes.

"I think after yesterday, I didn't have much more to give, "Hingis said. "I was flat and tired mentally."

Razzano, ranked 112 in the world, now meets Kaia Kanepi in round three.

Justine Henin-Hardenne cruised into the third round by comfortably beating American Vania King.

The diminutive Belgian, seeded two, managed to complete her 6-1 6-2 victory in little over an hour but was broken twice by the home favourite.

It was just as well Henin-Hardenne, who put her knee injury behind her to win the recent Pilot Pen event in New Haven, tore King's service game to shreads, winning seven of them along the way.

A ruthless display from Lindsay Davenport crushed Croatia's Jelena Kostanic in double quick time. The American and 10th seed took all 12 games in a match which lasted just 40 minutes to win 6-0 6-0.

French star Amelie Mauresmo was made to fight for her straight sets victory over Meghann Shaughnessy.

The home crowd were fully behind the American challenger but despite all her endeavours, the number one seed was simply too strong and progressed to the third round with a 6-4 6-3 win.

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova also didn't take long to see off the tame challenge of Lauren Albanese in straight sets. The number six seed, troubled by an abdominal muscle problem in recent weeks, looked unstoppable as she breezed to a 6-1 6-1 victory.

She will now meet compatriot Anastassia Rodionova who shocked 29th seed Jie Zheng of China 7-5 6-3. It was an easy night for Maria Sharapova who only dropped one game against Emilie Loit of France.The Russian starlet, seeded three, was ruthless in areas of her game as she ran out a 6-0 6-1 winner.

Serena Williams staged a stunning comeback to beat a deflated Daniela Hantuchova 7-5 6-3. The unseeded American, who won here back in 1999 and 2002, trailed 3-5 in the first set but fought back to take the next five games on the trot and from then on the result was a formality.

Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic needed three sets to defeat Russia's Alina Jidkova. The ninth seed looked on course for an easy victory when she won the first set 6-2 but Jidkova hit back to take the second 3-6.

Vaidisova, still only 17, then found another gear to wrap up the final set 6-3 and book her place in the third round.

A valiant effort from Sweden's Sofia Arvidsson was all in vain as Patty Schnyder eased through to the next round. The vastly experienced seventh seed from Switzerland may not have a great record at the US Open but her 6-3 7-5 triumph on Wednesday proved she means buisness this time round.

Francesca Schiavone needed three sets to defeat Sania Mirza of India. The Italian 14th seed was shocked to lose the first set 5-7 but this only spurred her on to take the next two 6-1 6-2 to complete what ended up being a relativly easy second round win.

Dinara Safina, seeded 12, continued her impressive form in beating Yuliana Fedak in the second round.

The sister of Marat Safin, who hadn't even got past the opening round at Flushing Meadows since 2003, looked impressive throughout as she completed a 6-3 6-4 victory.

Elena Dementieva powered past Finland's Emma Laine in convincing style. Last year's runner-up destroyed her opponent 6-4 6-0 to reach the third round without any troubles.

Nadia Petrova was also in unforgiving mood as she hammered Virginia Ruano Pascual in straight sets. The Russian tore her opponent apart to win 6-1 6-1 in what was a rather brief second-round encounter.

Also advancing were number 19 seed Jelena Jankovic, number 20 Maria Kirilenko, number 21 Shahar Peer, number 24 Na Li, number 26 Marion Bartoli, number 27 Tatiana Golovin and number 33 Vera Zvonareva.