Rafter escapes the guillotine

INDIANAPOLIS, AUG 19: Second seed Patrick Rafter found himself in a battle against a Frenchman ranked outside the top 100 and barely esca...

INDIANAPOLIS, AUG 19: Second seed Patrick Rafter found himself in a battle against a Frenchman ranked outside the top 100 and barely escaped with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 7-1 comeback to advance at the 870,000 RCA Tennis Championships.

The world No 4 from Australia struggled for two hours and five minutes yesterday before finally overcoming 105-ranked Anthony Dupuis France in their first meeting.

Rafter took a lengthy post-match treatment on his right shoulder, which has been bothering him due to tendinitis for weeks.

Other Results 2nd Round: 6-Marcelo Rios Braz bt Haral Levy Isr 6-2 7-6 7-5; Jan Siemerink Neth bt 7-Tommy Haas Ger 6-2 7-6 7-5; Jared Palmer US bt 11-Nicolas Lapentti Ecu 6-2 6-2; Daniel Nestor Can bt David Prinosil Ger 6-3 6-1; Cedric Pioline Fra bt Alberto Martin Spa 6-0 6-3; Magnus Larsson Swed bt Thomas Enqvist Swed 7-6 8-6 6-4; Sebastien Grosjean Fra bt Albert Costa Spa 6-7 0-7 6-2 7-5.

Easy for Agassi

WASHINGTON: Andre Agassi put himself on track to earn his fifth Legg Mason Classic title. Agassi, the No 2 seed, disposed off Swede Mikael Tillstrom 6-1 6-1 in 50 minutes yesterday.

Other Results: 3-Tim Henman Eng bt Peter Wessels Ned 7-6 7-2 7-5; 5-Alex Corretja Spa bt Gianlucci Pozzi Ita 7-6 7-5 1-6 7-5; 9-Fabrice Santoro Fra bt Ronald Agenor Hai 6-4 6-4; Tomas Zib Cze bt 10-Rainer Schuttler Ger 6-7 2-7 7-5 3-0 retired; Ramon Delgado Par bt 13-Michael Chang US 6-4 1-6 6-3.

Serena injured

TORONTO: Serena Williams, seeded eighth in the 1.05 million Du Maurier Open, injured her right shoulder in practice last morning and defaulted her 2nd round match against unseeded Silvija Tajala of Croatia.

Story continues below this ad

Williams suffered a rotator muscle strain that will keep her out of next week8217;s tournament at New Haven. Williams8217; spot in the draw went to 80th-ranked Amelie Cocheteux of France, a qualifying-round loser. She was beaten 6-4 6-1 by Tajala.

Other Results 2nd Round: Ai Sugiyama Jap bt 4-Jana Novotna Cze 5-7 6-2 6-1; 5-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario Spa bt Karina Habsudova Slo 7-5 6-2; Jennifer Capriati US bt 7-Nathalie Tauziat Fra 1-6 6-4 6-2; 9-Barbara Schett Austria bt Renata Kolbovic Can 6-3 6-1; 10-Sandrine Testud Fra bt Magui Serna Spa 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; 12-Conchita Martinez Spa bt Jelena Dokic Aust 5-7 6-1 6-4

Wild card for Malivai

WHITE PLAINS: Former Wimbledon finalist Malivai Washington is among 16 players who received wild-card entries into the US Open, which begins on August 30. The 30-year-old American lost in the 1996 Wimbledon final to Dutchman Richard Krajicek, and has since been sidelined with an injury. Washington8217;s brother, Mashiska, and sister, Mashona, also received wild card entries.

Wild Cards Men: James Blake, Bob Bryan, Taylor Dent, Kevin Kim, Phillip King, Jeff Morrison, Malivai Washington, Mashiska; Women: Erika De Lone, Laura Ganville, Jennifer Hopkins, Zuzana Lesenarova, Melissa Middleton, Meilen Tu, Samantha Reeves, Mashona.

Philippoussis back

Story continues below this ad

BRISBANE: Mark Philippoussis was recalled today to the Australian Davis Cup tennis squad for next month8217;s semifinal against Russia in Brisbane.

Philippoussis missed last month8217;s quarter-final victory over the US due to an ankle injury. But with World No 4 Patrick Rafter battling a shoulder problem and Lleyton Hewitt still recovering from an ankle strain, Australian captain John Newcombe said he needs a squad that can withstand last-minute changes.

Meanwhile, Australian coach Tony Roche warned Rafter not to put his tennis future at risk by playing the Davis Cup.

Roche said it would be unfair to expect Rafter to withdraw from his US Open defence to help spearhead Australia. 8220;But If I know Pat, it8217;s going to take more than a sore shoulder to stop him,8221; Roche said.