Aussies out as Andre shines

Before 20-year veteran Andre Agassi got his 2006 US Open campaign off to a bright start, the hopes of Aussies Alicia Molik and Sam Stosur came to a disappointing end on the opening day in New York.

Molik, who was handed a wildcard into the main draw, never found her rhythm in her match against American teenager Vania King, falling 6-3 6-2 in a less than inspiring performance.

The American’s steady play proved too much for the 203rd-ranked Australian, who put her poor performance down to the “circus-like” conditions.

“There was Tina Turner going on, you had the court generators, you had the bloke behind us burning hot dogs that I could smell,” Molik said.

But she also acknowledged that her fate was ultimately in her own hands.

“Being a professional tennis player, you have to block all those things out.

“I didn’t have the ability to do that today and that definitely contributed to the horrendous play today.”

The defeat of Queenslander Stosur, Australia’s highest ranked woman, was even harder to swallow after she reached a career-high ranking of No.30 one day earlier.

Like her compatriot Molik, the 22-year-old was disappointing in her 6-2 7-6(5) loss to Czech Lucie Safarova.

Stosur, who entered the US Open with high expectations having beaten current world No.11 Lindsay Davenport two weeks prior and reaching the semi-finals at New Haven last week, was rarely at her best and lasted just 78 minutes before being bundled out of the singles draw herself.

A young and talented Safarova was always going to be a dangerous first round opponent for the improving Aussie, but that fact did not soften the reality of being beaten.

“I’m disappointed to say the least,” Stosur said.

“It’s really not the result and not what I wanted to happen here, especially in light of what has been happening the last few weeks.

Having been ousted from the singles draw, Stosur will now focus on defending the women’s doubles crown with American Lisa Raymond, and on challenging for the mixed doubles trophy with Indian doubles specialist Leander Paes.

While Stosur and Molik were still contemplating the loss of their matches, Las Vegas showman Agassi was making day one of the US Championships one to remember in the final match of the day.

In what is the final tournament in his colourful career, the New York favourite spent three and a half hours thrilling those present at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as he pushed his 36-year-old frame to a draining 6-7(4) 7-6(8) 7-6(6) 6-2 victory over gallant Romanian Andrei Pavel.

The New York crowd gave a teary Agassi a standing ovation on entry to the court and the popular superstar did not disappoint as he displayed a brand of tennis he has rarely produced of late.

The crowd’s excitement was matched by the man they were wildly bias towards.

“I want to be here real bad, for the whole two weeks,” Agassi said while still on court. “I really want to leave my best stuff on court… I’m very proud of this day and I’m glad it gets to happen again.”

Agassi’s next opponent is another popular player in Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, while Andy Roddick, Davenport, Justine Henin-Hardenne and Svetlana Kuznetsova also advanced to the second round on the opening day.

Day two will see Australia’s remaining players in the singles events – Nicole Pratt, Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis – all attempt to advance to the second round at Flushing Meadows.

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