Agassi amp; friends continue year of comeback

NEW YORK, SEPT 5: Career comeback master Andre Agassi reached the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, as did a pair of play...

NEW YORK, SEPT 5: Career comeback master Andre Agassi reached the fourth round of the US Open tennis championships, as did a pair of players trying to emulate his remarkable resurgence: Andrei Medvedev and Jennifer Capriati.

Agassi, who had plunged out of the top 100 in 1997, completed his climb back to the top of the game with his French Open triumph in June, which made him only the fifth man to earn a career Grand Slam.

The highest seed left in the men8217;s draw, Agassi is undisputedly the Open favourite. But even after his 6-1 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory over 87th-ranked compatriot Justin Gimelstob he continued to tout the dangers lurking in the draw.

Agassi categorically disagreed with third-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov8217;s assertion that he, Agassi and 12th seed Richard Krajicek of The Netherlands are the only men with a chance of winning the title.

8220;I think anyone who is still in the tournament is a problem,8221; Agassi said. We all know if we could phone in the results, I8217;m the highest seed left. Butyou can8217;t. You8217;ve got to go out there and play.8221;

Kafelnikov8217;s prediction came after he took six match points to finish off Sweden8217;s Jonas Bjorkman 6-1 6-4 6-4. Krajicek, who won the Wimbledon in 1996, defeated compatriot John Van Lottum 6-4 6-1 6-4. He will next face unseeded American Vince Spadea, who defeated Italian lucky loser Laurence Tieleman 6-2 4-6 6-7 4-7 6-2 7-6 7-3.

RAIN DELAY: Rain delayed start of play on Sunday, postponing 12 singles matches. Women8217;s fourth-round play was to start when the drops started with French 15th seed Amelie Mauresmo facing German Anke Huber.

HOW THE SEEDS FARED

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MEN SINGLES 3RD ROUND: 2-Andre Agassi US bt Justin Gimelstob US 6-1 4-6 6-3 6-4; 3-Yevgeny Kafelnikov Russ bt Jonas Bjorkman Swed 6-1 6-4 6-4; 10-Marcelo Rios Chile bt Jan Kroslak Slovak 6-3 6-4 6-4; 12-Richard Krajicek Neth bt John Van Lottum Neth 6-4 6-1 6-4; Arnaud Clement France bt 15-Nicolas Kiefer Germ 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-2.

WOMEN SINGLES 3RD ROUND:2-Lindsay Davenport US bt Amy Frazier US 6-1 6-1; 4-Monica Seles US bt Ai Sugiyama Japan 6-2 6-3; 5-Mary Pierce France bt Angeles Montolio Spain 6-0 7-6 7-4; 7-Serena Williams US bt Kim Clijsters Belg 4-6 6-2 7-5; 9-Julie Halard-Decugis France bt Amelie Cocheteux France 5-2 retired; Jennifer Capriati US bt 11-Nathalie Tauziat France 6-3 1-6 6-1; 16-Conchita Martinez Spain bt Elena Dementieva Russ 6-2 2-6 6-4.

OTHER THIRD ROUND RESULTS

MEN SINGLES: Nicolas Escude France bt Xavier Malisse Belg 6-3 6-2 6-1; Vince Spadea US bt Laurence Tieleman Italy 6-2 4-6 6-7 4-7 6-2 7-6 7-3; Andrei Medvedev Ukr bt Lleyton Hewitt Aus 3-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3.

WOMEN SINGLES: Sabine Appelmans Belg bt Magui Serna Spain 0-6 6-1 6-3.