Agassi's too hot for Greg

13 April 2012

Greg Rusedski's hopes of pulling off another sensational victory over Andre Agassi were left in tatters today as the former world No1 swept into the quarterfinals of the Franklin Templeton Classic at Scottsdale, Arizona.

The American used his sensational groundstroke game to devastating effect and comfortably beat Britain's Davis Cup star 6-4, 6-4.

This victory takes Agassi 6-2 up in the head-to-head, but victory was by far his easiest over the big left-hander, who was forced to call the trainer after a blister burst in the second game today.

They have played each other three times in the last 12 months, and while Rusedski won in San Jose, Agassi only just edged the other two matches in thrilling final set deciders.

On this occasion, Agassi used early breaks in each set - the fifth of the first and opening game of the second - to book his place in the last eight.

Agassi, who has played six of the last seven days, said: "I felt pretty good and got off to a good start by breaking Greg early in both sets. I took care of my serve and that paid off.

"Greg is very dangerous and he gives you little rhythm. There are long streaks when you don't even get a sniff of his serve. You've got to beat guys like Greg, but I'm moving sharply and that's great for me."

Rusedski admitted: "I didn't play badly. Andre served very well and I'm starting to get my feel back.

"I'm now ready for Indian Wells and Miami. I'm not disappointed, but I do have to pick up over the next few weeks.

"The difference between Andre and me today was the sharpness on one or two points. Andre is very hungry, having been off for the past two months."

Top seed Agassi is back out again tomorrow, battling for a place in the semi-finals against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela, who saw off fifth seed Alex Corretja of Spain 6-4, 6-4.

Defending champion Jan-Michael Gam-bill swept past fellow American Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 at the International Championships in Delray Beach, Florida. The No 2 seed will now play Andre Sa in the quarter-finals after the Brazilian No6 seed Lars Burgmuller of Germany 7-6, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Patrick Rafter has admitted that the Australia Davis Cup team's decision to partner himself with world No1 Lleyton Hewitt in the key doubles match of last year's final against France may have been an error.

Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald replaced his established doubles pairing of Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge with the two US Open singles champions, triggering a chain of events that led to Australia's downfall.

The makeshift pair lost to France's Cedric Pioline and Fabrice Santoro, but then Rafter had to withdraw from Sunday's deciding singles match, which Arthurs lost, after Rafter had aggravated an arm injury in the doubles.

Rafter, named Australian of the 2002, said: "Our coach Wally Masur and Fitzy came to me and said "do you want to play? I said 'it's up to you guys. Whatever you want to do, I'll do.'

"They took the gamble on my arm. These are big, big decisions. In hindsight, it may have been the wrong decision. But you stand by the decision."

Fitzgerald said after Australia's shock 3-2 defeat in the final in Melbourne: "Everyone's a genius in retrospect, but I stand by our decision. It's a very fine line between genius and idiot, isn't it?"

Rafter said the team had a two-hour meeting on the night before the doubles match. The former world No1 added: "Even until the next morning we still couldn't decide who was going to play.

Rafter, 29, has now taken a break from tennis and strongly hinted that he would not be making a comeback after a career that included two US Open titles and two losses in Wimbledon finals.

He summed up: "I'm not really missing the hard work and the pressure."

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