Three-time champion Andre Agassi defeated Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden to advance to the third round of the Montreal Masters tournament. The 35-year-old Agassi, seeded fourth and seeking his first victory in Canada since 1995, advanced to face Nicolas Kiefer of Germany in the round of 16 with his 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory. Kiefer, a semifinalist last year, beat Taylor Dent of the United States 6-4, 6-4.Agassi improved to 5-0 against Bjorkman. He has eight Grand Slam titles and 60 wins overall in his 19-year pro career, while Bjorkman has nine tournament titles in 15 years. They are two of the oldest players in the draw. A long rain delay couldn’t stop Rafael Nadal of Spain as the top seed romped to 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ricardo Mello.Nadal, back to his fist-pumping self after a subdued opening-round win over friend and mentor Carlos Moya, advanced to a third-round meeting with Sebastien Grosjean, who upset his 15th-seeded French compatriot Richard Gasquet 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.The 19-year-old Nadal, who has eight tournaments wins this year - all on clay courts - is looking for his first career hardcourt victory. Former French Open champ Gaston Gaudio of Argentina broke Danish veteran Kenneth Carlsen in the last game to win 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. And Montreal-born Greg Rusedski of Britain downed Max Mirnyi of Belarus 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in a battle of big servers. Also Olivier Rochus of Belgium advanced when Swede Robin Soderling retired with a right ankle injury in the third set.
