Graf zooms into last eight

Graf looked like her champion self against Sugiyama, taking only 43 minutes to wrap up the third-round victory. The big forehand that made her No. 1 in the world for a record 374 weeks was once again finding the far lines and corners. And she moved on the court as she did before the surgery.

“I didn’treally think I would go out and play like that tonight. Felt great,” Graf said. “I was going for my shots. Played very deep, pretty hard. Felt pretty good. I needed to find out if I’m capable and the knee is capable to take it.” she said.

Agassi, a two-time finalist on the hardcourts here, is coming off victories in his last two tournaments. Last year he failed to win a title and dropped as low as 141st on the atp tour rankings, his first time out of the top 100 since he turned pro in 1986.

His comeback he says, “is motivated by my own desire to do something that’s important to me. There’s still more tennis in me. I’m going to go in there and get it. The difference today just kind of turned out to be just toughing it out really, not much more.”

Other men posting victories yesterday included two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera and Magnus Norman of Sweden. Bruguera bested fellow Spaniard Julian Alonso 7-6 (7-0), 6-3, while Norman upset ninth-seeded Alex Corretja of Spain 7-5, 6-3.

Thereigning French Open champ, Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten, was ousted by Nicolas Kiefer of Germany 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6. And in yet another upset, Albert Costa of Spain knocked off No. 13 Felix Mantilla 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In other men’s matches, No. 11 Karol Kucera defeated Dominik Hrbaty 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-5); No. 15 Cedric Pioline eliminated Marc Rosset 6-3, 6-4 Thomas Muster stopped Chris Woodruff 6-4, 6-4 Malivai Washington downed Mark Woodforde 6-3, 7-5; Bohdan Ulihrach beat Marcelo Filippini 6-4, 6-0; Francisco Clavet outplayed Alberto Portas 6-1, 6-1; and Wayne Ferreira rallied to beat Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

In the women’s field, No. 15 Natasha Zvereva upset sixth-seeded Irina Spirlea 6-3, 7-5. In another upset, Sandra Cacic eliminated No. 9 Sandrine Testud 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3).