Agassi breezes through opener

Janie McCauley

Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003 | 8:59 a.m.

NEW YORK -- There's been but a single blemish during Andy Roddick's remarkable run on the hard courts this summer.

Britain's Tim Henman caused it.

Roddick couldn't quite believe it when he learned they would meet again in the first round of the U.S. Open -- not the first round!

Roddick, a 20-year-old American, avenged the loss to Henman on Tuesday night in the most ideal of settings: on center court in Arthur Ashe Stadium as the feature match of the day.

Roddick hit big serves and sizzling cross-court groundstrokes to win 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. His passing shots were superb, too.

"I definitely think it caught me by surprise," Roddick said of drawing Henman. "I was like 'OK, I've got to play some ball right away.' I had a great summer, but he was the only dark spot."

Roddick refused to look ahead to a potential title match against No. 1 Andre Agassi of Las Vegas. Agassi, 33, the oldest top-seeded player in the Open era, made quick work of Alex Corretja 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in the first round.

And sixth-seeded Jennifer Capriati needed only 35 minutes to eliminate Spain's Cristina Torrens Valero 6-0, 6-1 in the first night match.

Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semifinalist, handed Roddick a three-set loss for his lone defeat in 22 hard-court matches this summer in the semifinals at Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Henman missed two months after shoulder surgery in February and has slipped to 34th in the rankings.

He was serving for the second set, but double faulted on one point and couldn't pull it out.

"He's playing better than anyone in the world right now," Henman said. "I think that's stating the obvious with the way he's played in the last four weeks on the hard courts. He is going to be very tough to beat. He's so confident right now. He's got such a big game."

After the match, many young girls rushed to position themselves courtside in hopes of getting an autograph from Roddick, who turns 21 Saturday.

"I don't try to pay attention to that," he said. "I try to keep it between the lines."

Michael Chang made his final match before retirement a memorable one.

The 31-year-old Chang, energetic as ever, was overpowered by 15th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, but rallied to win the third set.

Chang left with little fanfare, though the U.S. Tennis Association talked to him about doing something for him next week as a tribute.

"This whole year has been bittersweet," said Chang, who won only twice in 12 matches. "It's nice to be able to know that through tennis or through your person, you're able to touch a life. It's nice to know that a lot of lives have touched mine."

In less than 24 hours, the U.S. Open bid farewell to two players. Pete Sampras formally announced his retirement Monday night and was honored in a lengthy on-court ceremony.

"It's a weird feeling," Agassi said of seeing Sampras and Chang retire. "You expect to leave the dance with the ones you came with. When they decide it's time for them, it's a sad feeling. ... Sometimes you wish things would never change."

Other winners on the second day of action included Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuettler, No. 11 Paradorn Srichaphan, two-time major champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov and 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa.

Two low-seeded men lost: No. 29 Feliciano Lopez and No. 32 Vince Spadea.

French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne started with a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Aniko Kapros, a qualifier who upset her in the first round at Roland Garros last year. Others advancing included No. 7 Anastasia Myskina and 2000 semifinalist Elena Dementieva, while No. 10 Magdalena Maleeva, No. 16 Elena Bovina, No. 21 Anna Pistolesi, and No. 31 Alexandra Stevenson lost.