 Andre Agassi did not have it all his own way |
Andre Agassi struggled past Georgia's Irakli Labadze 7-6 (7) 6-4 in a difficult first-round match at the Siebel Open. The second seed grabbed the only service break in the match to go 4-3 up in the second set.
"That was an awkward match," commented Agassi. "I couldn't quite get over the hump of breaking his serve."
Elsewhere, Tommy Haas' first match after a 15-month absence through injury ended in a 6-4 6-2 by Vince Spadea.
Mardy Fish of the United States claimed his first win of the year.
The third seed defeated qualifier Alex Reichel 6-1 6-4.
"I didn't do anything terribly bad or one thing exceptionally well," said Fish.
"It's good to get the first one under my belt and just move on."
Fish will meet Kenneth Carlsen, who defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-3 4-6 6-3 earlier in the day, in the second round.
In other first-round matches, fifth-seeded Robby Ginepri beat fellow American Cecil Mamiit 6-4 6-3.
Cyril Saulnier of France beat American Brian Vahaly 6-3, 7-6 (7) and Krostof Vleigen of Belgium topped Alexander Popp of Germany 6-1 6-3.
MMIX
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