Speed courts claim four more

Agassi beat Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 7-5 6-0 6-3 and Sampras followed in the main stadium with a 6-3 7-6 (6) 6-1 victory over Sweden’s Mikael Tillstrom.

Sampras said that with the large number of player complaints he was certain the courts would be returned to their previous speed in time for the 2001 Australian Open.

“The guys that are going to do well here are the ones who move well and certainly Andre (Agassi) who hits the ball early and flat is going to like the conditions,” he said.

While they advanced to third round today, No 8 Todd Martin and No 9 Richard Krajicek left the Agassi-Sampras half of the draw with gaping holes at the top, despite expectations that their big serves wouldgive them an edge on the resurfaced courts.

Both mentioned health or injury problems, but Krajicek said the fast courts were helping even players whose serves usually aren’t considered dangerous.

Spain’s Fernando Vicente beat Martin 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-3 after the American blew a 5-2 lead in the fifth. Nicolas Escude, a 1998 semifinalist here, beat Krajicek, the 1996 Wimbledon champion, 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-3.

On the women’s side, 1999 finalist Amelie Mauresmo lost 6-4 6-4 to Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder, but her problem looked to be more the burden of expectations after she beat three of the World’s top five women in winning a warm-up event last week.

Another French player, No 5 Nathalie Tauziat, sprayed 38 unforced errors around the court in a 7-6 (3) 6-4 loss to Canadian qualifier Sonya Jeyaseelan.

HOW THE SEEDS FARED
Prefix denotes seeding
Men singles (2nd round): 1-Andre Agassi (US) bt Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands) 7-5 6-0 6-3; 3Pete Sampras (US) bt Mikael Tillstrom (Swed) 6-3 7-6(6) 6-1; Fernando Vicente (Spain) bt 8-Todd Martin 6-4 2-6 3-6 6-3; Nicolas Escude (France) bt 9-Richard Krajicek (Netherlands) 2-6 6-3 6-1 6-3; 11-Tim Henman (Britain) bt Rainer Schuttler (Germ) 6-2 4-1 (retired injured).
Women singles (2nd round): 2-Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Marissa Irvin (US) 6-4 7-5; 4-Mary Pierce (France) beat Amelie Cocheteux (France) 6-2 6-2; Sonya Jeyaseelan (Canada) bt 5-Nathalie Tauziat (France) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4; Patty Schnyder (Swiss) bt 7-Amelie Mauresmo (France) 6-4 6-4; 8-Amanda Coetzer bt Tatiana Panova (Rus) 6-2 6-3; 9-Julie Halard-Decugis bt Fabiola Zuluaga (Colombia) 6-3 6-3; 11-Anna Kournikova (Russia) bt Natasha Zvereva (Bel) 6-1 6-4.

OTHER SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Men singles: Andreas Vinciguerra (Swed) bt Leander Paes (India) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-3; Mariano Zabaleta (Arg) bt Todd Woodbridge (Aus) 7-6 (8-6) 4-6 6-1 6-4; Wayne Black (Zimb) bt Marc Rosset (Swiss) 6-1 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3; Slava Dosedel (Czech) bt Paradorn Srichaphan (Thai) 4-6 6-2 6-4 6-1;Franco Squillari (Arg) bt Mark Woodforde (Aus) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-4; Sebastien Grosjean (France) bt Michael Hill (Aus) 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 6-0; Andrew Ilie (Aus) bt Jiri Novak (Czech) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4; Hicham Arazi (Morocco) bt Fredrik Jonsson (Sweden) 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Women singles: Nadedja Petrova (Russia) beat Cara Black (Zimbabwe) 4-6 6-4 6-4; Kveta Hrdlickova (Czech) bt Rita Kuti Kis (Hungary) 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (5-7) 6-3; Ai Sugiyama (Japan) bt Adriana Gersi (Czech) 6-1 6-4; Miriam Oremans (Netherlands) bt Sandra Nacuk (Yug 6-3 7-5; Elena Dementieva (Russia) bt Angeles Montolio (Spain) 6-4 6-3; Asa Carlsson (Sweden) bt Kristie Boogert (Neth) 7-5 6-3; Yi Jing-Qian (China) bt Julie Pullin (Britain) 6-3 2-6 9-7; Jana Kandarr (Germ) bt Emilie Loit (France) 1-6 7-5 6-3; Alina Jidkova (Russia) bt Marlene Weingartner (Germ) 7-5 6-3; Alina Jidkova (Rus) bt Mariene Weingartner (Ger) 7-5 6-3.

PAES BOWS OUT
Melbourne: Leander Paes’ singles campaign in the Australian Open ended inthe second round on Wednesday when he fell to Sweden’s Andreas Vinceiguerra in straight sets. Paes lost 6-7 (3), 4-6 3-6.
But the amiable Paes said it’s early days as he works on lifting his singles ranking. “I’m not so disappointed,” he said after his loss.
“In the first set I did everything else but win it. I was serving for the set 5-4 and serving well and suddenly I throw in one double fault, allow a couple to get past me and I’ve got my back against the wall.
“The tie break was close but once he won that he got a lot more confidence under his belt and made it difficult for me to break his serve.”
Paes and Sebastien Lareau of Canada play their first doubles game later this week, against Jack Waite and Geoff Grant of the US.

UPSETS UPDATE
Men (1st round): 5-Gustavo Kuerten (Bra), 6-Thomas Enqvist (Swe), 13-Cedric Pioline (Fra), 14-Karol Kucera (Slo), 15-Albert Costa (Spa). Second round: 8-Todd Martin (US), 9-Richard Krajicek (Neth)
Women (1st round):15-Anke Huber (Ger). Second round: 5-Nathalie Tauziat (Fra); 7-Amelie Mauresmo (Fra)

ASIAN PLAYERS’ UPDATE
Men: Leander Paes, Sripchaphan Paradorn lose
Women: Ai Sugiyama, Yi Jingqian win.