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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mouth Gets In Agassi’s Way Again

Associated Press

Andre Agassi struggled with his temper and a rookie qualifier. Pete Sampras won a match many thought he might lose. Monica Seles made a stirring return on a court dedicated to her idol.

On a dreary, rainy opening day at Roland Garros on Monday, the big names overcame injury worries, tricky opponents and emotional moments to move safely into the second round of the French Open.

Sampras, the men’s top seed, served 23 aces and beat Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) for his first victory on clay this year, setting up a second-round clash against two-time champion Sergi Bruguera.

“I’m trying to play on my terms, be aggressive, not be so passive like I have been in the past,” said Sampras, who has never advanced past the quarterfinals in Paris.

Agassi, No. 3, received a warning and a point penalty for audible obscenities before taking advantage of a rain delay to subdue Spanish qualifier Jacobo Diaz 6-1, 6-7 (9-7), 6-4, 6-4.

“I have a tendency to make it more difficult on myself than it needs to be,” said Agassi, who had 77 unforced errors.

Seles, playing her first French Open since her stabbing in Germany three years ago, dedicated Court A to the 1920s French star Suzanne Lenglen. She then returned to the same court, sore shoulder and all, and easily beat French wild card Caroline Dhenin 6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes.

“The French Open has always had a very special place in my heart,” said Seles, who won here three straight times from 1990-92. “Going out there and thinking this court is named after somebody that I really loved, now I’m playing my first match coming back on it, it’s in some way a new beginning.

“Maybe somebody was looking at me from above,” she said. “Hopefully she (Lenglen) was watching me play today. It would mean a lot to me.”

French favorite Henri Leconte, playing his 15th and final French Open, lost 6-1, 6-1, 6-4 to Thomas Johansson. As the center court crowd gave him a long standing ovation, Leconte sobbed into his towel. He then climbed the umpire’s chair to grab the microphone and say farewell. “I will remember this day all my life,” Leconte said.

Sampras had a surprisingly easy time against Gustafsson, a former top 10 player now ranked No. 34. Despite the cool, wet conditions that slowed down the court and made the balls heavier, Sampras dominated with his big serve, hitting 18 service winners to go with his bundle of aces.

Sampras showed no signs of the back spasms which affected him last week in Dusseldorf, though he needed treatment for a bloody nose during the third set.

Agassi found a dangerous opponent in Diaz, a 19-year-old former French Open junior champion playing his first match on the regular tour. Diaz is ranked No. 261 and has won only $1,255 in his career, compared to nearly $12 million for Agassi.

Agassi, his head shaved, drew a warning from chair umpire Wayne McEwan for an audible obscenity while losing the second set tiebraker. After being broken in the sixth game of the third set, Agassi was docked a penalty point for another audible obscenity. A third violation would result in an automatic default, but Agassi kept his mouth in check from then on.

Diaz continued to push Agassi before the match was suspended by heavy rain at 4-4 in the fourth set. When play resumed 90 minutes later, Agassi won eight of nine points to end the match.

xxxx French Open Winners: Top-seeded Pete Sampras defeated Sweden’s Magnus Gustafsson. Andre Agassi (3) and Jim Courier (7) also won their first-round matches. On the women’s side, co-No. 1 Monica Seles breezed into the second round, trouncing France’s Caroline Dhenin. Iva Majoli (5), Anke Huber (6) and teenager Martina Hingis (15) also easily won. Losers: Malivai Washington, seeded 16th, was eliminated after quitting in the third set against Argentina’s Franco Squillari due to a pulled thigh muscle. A look ahead: Last year’s men’s champion, Thomas Muster, seeded second, will take on Frederik Fetterlein of Denmark in his first-round match today. Reigning champion Steffi Graf, co-ranked No. 1, will face Larisa Neiland of Latvia.