Andre Agassi made a stunning return to action on Tuesday when he routed Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Cup. The 35-year-old, seeded number one in LA, had been sidelined for the last two months with a sciatic nerve problem.
But he made quick work of his lucky loser opponent, dominating 6-1 6-0 to set up a second-round match with compatriot Kevin Kim.
Earlier, third seed Nicolas Kiefer retired from the event due to illness.
The German was trailing wildcard James Blake 2-3 when he quit, and Blake will now face fellow American Robby Ginepri, who ousted Australian Wayne Arthurs 6-4 6-4.
Fifth seeded Taylor Dent and unseeded Mardy Fish, scheduled for Tuesday's last match, withdrew a few hours before they were to take the court.
 |  I was expecting to be sort of like a deer in the headlights |
Dent pulled out because of lingering effects of heat illness that caused him to retire in Sunday's final at Indianapolis, and Fish withdrew because of a sore right wrist.
Defending champion Tommy Haas, playing for the first time since tearing a ligament in his right ankle at Wimbledon, was a 6-4 6-4 winner over Ivo Karlovic.
Agassi made the perfect comeback with a 47-minute demolition of Lisnard.
"Certainly to come out here for the first match in such a long time, I could never have expected or hoped for that standard and to be that comfortable early on," said Agassi.
"I just settled in early. I felt like I was covering good court.
"I was very happy with all aspects of my game. I was expecting the nerves, which I did have, but nerves go away quickly when you get up two breaks immediately, which I did.
"I was expecting to make some bad decisions in shot selection, to be struggling a little bit.
"I was expecting to be sort of like a deer in the headlights and watch a few too long and not react as quickly as I knew I could have."
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
