World No.1 Andre Agassi, making the most of his ‘second life’ at age 33, took his first step toward the US Open with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Swiss foe Ivo Heuberger at the ATP Washington Classic. The eight-time Grand Slam champion, who received a first-round bye, needed only an hour to reach the third round of the $600,000 hardcourt event, winning his first match since a disappointing fourth-round Wimbledon ouster.“It was a great start,” Agassi said. “I have a lot of matches this summer and I hope to get better as I go along. I’m going to step up more and more. Right now I feel great.” Agassi, a five-time champion here, is the oldest man to be ranked No.1. He rose to 19-1 this year on hardcourts, including titles at San Jose, Miami and the Australian Open. Enjoying a rebirth since winning the 1999 French Open to complete a career Grand Slam, Agassi has baffled younger rivals over the past four years by winning three of the past four Australian Opens and the 1999 US Open crown. “That was certainly a big point in my career, to win in Paris,” Agassi said.
