First-round result:

A AGASSI (USA) v A PAVEL (Rom)

6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (8-6) 6-2

News conference: Andre Agassi

Fourth set:

Agassi 6-2 Pavel
A sublime drop shot and an ace take Agassi to match point and, clearly emotional, he manages to find another service winner to secure one more win in a glittering careeer.

Agassi 5-2 Pavel
Pavel will not give up and shows plenty of grit as the 28,000 spectators all but begin the victory party.

Agassi 5-1 Pavel
Agassi clenches his fist after he comes through another service game to stand one game from victory.

Agassi 4-1 Pavel
Pavel gets off the mark with a swift service game but Agassi does not look too concerned and the crowd are already gathering themselves for the victory celebrations.

Agassi 4-0 Pavel
This time it is Agassi who has a four-game lead in a set after a confident service game, and surely the Aermican will not make the same mistake as Pavel.

Agassi 3-0 Pavel
Agassi wastes two more break points but when the third comes around Pavel hands it to him with an error. It's tempting to say this is over but we've been down that road before...

Agassi 2-0 Pavel
The games are racing by now and Pavel seems unable to do much about it. The Agassi camp looks relaxed for the first time all night.

Agassi 1-0 Pavel
Agassi thrills the crowd by breaking serve at the start of the fourth and surely Pavel's will is broken now.

Third set:

Agassi 7-6 (8-6) Pavel
Unlike the previous two tie-breaks, this time Agassi takes control from the start. At 5-3 up he is slightly fortunate that Pavel misses a backhand, and the Romanian then ill-advisedly baits the New York crowd by theatrically making everyone wait for the next point.

It does not seem too serious as Agassi is leading 6-3 but he misses his first set point by inches on the forehand before a deft Pavel drop shot claims the second. Pavel then levels with a searing backhand winner but Agassi converts his fourth set point with a blistering forehand cross-court.

Agassi 6-6 Pavel
Pavel edges through the game to 30 and it all comes down to the tie-break again.

Agassi 6-5 Pavel
A killer lob seals the game for Agassi who still looks confident despite failing to wrap up the set at the last opportunity. He will want to avoid another tie-break.

Agassi 5-5 Pavel
Pavel stops the rot by holding serve and Agassi decides to change his racquet again.

Agassi 5-4 Pavel
Agassi seems reticent to challenge any calls but, after the usual deliberation, the old boy calls on Hawkeye to question a serve that is called out and it pays off - it was an ace. He swiftly wraps up his fifth straight game and this is fast becoming one of the more remarkable sets in a truly remarkable career.

Agassi 4-4 Pavel
Pavel thinks he's won the game before Agassi challenges a call and Hawkeye backs the American. Pavel is stunned and an error hands Agassi the chance to level the set, but he blows it with a wild forehand. The backhand is working OK though and the shot of the match - a running cross-court winner - gives Agassi another break point. Pavel nets a forehand and, unbelievably, it's 4-4. Cue hysteria.

Agassi 3-4 Pavel
A quickfire service game hauls Agassi back to within one game.

Agassi 2-4 Pavel
OK, might have been a bit hasty writing Agassi off in this set. With his magic new racquet the Las Vegan breaks Pavel for only the second time.

Agassi 1-4 Pavel
The new racquet seems to be working - Agassi holds serve to get off the mark in this set.

Agassi 0-4 Pavel
Agassi's coach Darren Cahill scampers off, presumably to get some more racquets for his man, and meanwhile Agassi changes to one of the others in his bag. It is surely too late for this set.

Agassi 0-3 Pavel
It's only a few moments ago that Agassi won an epic second set and yet the third is almost as good as over already as he drops serve again, this time to love. The American looks furious with himself and the 28,000 fans are not making too much noise now.

Agassi 0-2 Pavel
A few hearty shouts of "Let's go Andre!" have little effect as Pavel consolidates the break with ease.

Agassi 0-1 Pavel
Agassi comes out after the changeover grinning from ear to ear and skips jauntily to the baseline. The smile is soon wiped off his face as he slips 15-40 down and gives up the break with a backhand error.

Second set:

Agassi 7-6 (10-8) Pavel
Agassi at last gets his nose in front with the first mini-break to go 3-2 up but he follows it with two poor forehands. Cometh the hour....at 5-4 down and with belief seemingly sapping away from the crowd Agassi hits a cross-court forehand that almost knocks Pavel over and then gets to set point. Pavel saves it with a stunning drop volley at full stretch and the crowd is in a state of mild hysteria. Agassi nets a backhand and it's set point Pavel but he puts a forehand wide. Now it's just hysteria.

Agassi has set point number two and even the serene Steffi is punching the air, but her man tamely puts the return long - 8-8. Moments later it's Agassi's third set point and, finally, Pavel misses a backhand. Steffi looks ready to cry, so does Andre.

Agassi 6-6 Pavel
Agassi looks like getting some momentum to take into the tie-break before an outrageous forehand return reminds everyone how dangerous Pavel is. Another tie-break.

Agassi 5-6 Pavel
Again Agassi gets to 30-30 and again Pavel comes up with the goods. A by now trrademark backhand winner down the line seals the game.

Agassi 5-5 Pavel
At 30-30, Pavel jumps all over an Agassi second serve only to see his forehand return miss by an inch. The American then misses an admittedly tough smash from behind the baseline to go to deuce but gets out of trouble with two big serves. He's hanging on.

Agassi 4-5 Pavel
When Pavel opens his shoulders on the single-handed backhand it's a sight to behold - one winner on the second point of the game even has the New York crowd gasping in admiration. However, they also applaud deliriously when the Romanian misses an absolute sitter on the next point. Pavel holds his nerve though and it's getting edgy for Agassi now.

Agassi 4-4 Pavel
Hawkeye is used for the first time in the match when Pavel questions an Agassi backhand onto the baseline. The video screen suggests it caught the back of the line, prompting Pavel into a fit of the giggles in disbelief. Two points later Agassi - after some deliberation - challenges a call and this time he's in the wrong. The crowd, in full pantomime mode, let out an enormous "aaaaah". Pavel's still giggling. Agassi faces break point and real danger but responds with an ace on his way to holding serve.

Agassi 3-4 Pavel
Pavel continues to huff and puff his way around the baseline between points before frustrating Agassi in the rallies. At 30-30 the Romanian reacts to the danger with a ,agnificent backhand winner down the line.

Agassi 3-3 Pavel
Agassi stays on serve by holding to 30 but he makes hard work of it.

Agassi 2-3 Pavel
Agassi drops the first three points quickly but gets back to 40-30 down before Pavel fires a smash straight at the American, who skies it into the stands.

Agassi 2-2 Pavel
The missed opportunity of the previous game looks like it might affect Agassi when he opens with a double fault but the 36-year-old recovers to get back on level terms.

Agassi 1-2 Pavel
Ouch. Agassi battles his way to break point, makes the opening down the line and then puts a very makeable forehand two inches wide. Pavel makes him pay by holding serve and it looks like being a long, hard night if Agassi is going to prolong his career.

Agassi 1-1 Pavel
Agassi gets back on track with a solid service game to 15, finished off with an ace, and the crowd is ready to start whooping again.

Agassi 0-1 Pavel
Pavel's face is bright red and he looks exhausted in between points but when the ball is in play he continues to belt it like his life depends upon it. He throws in one delicate drop shot and a wild Agassi forehand gives Pavel the game.

First set:

Agassi 6-7 (4-7) Pavel
Oh dear. The party atmosphere falls rather flat as Pavel continues to play superbly and moves 4-0 up in the tie-break. At 5-1 down Agassi misses an absolute sitter from the service line with Pavel stranded and the game is up. The Romanian needs four attempts but finally takes the set when Agassi puts a backhand wide.

Agassi 6-6 Pavel
Agassi misses a high backhand at 0-15 up and a glimmer of a chance disappears - tie-break.

Agassi 6-5 Pavel
A blistering Agassi forehand winner down the line from way behind the baseline is as good as anything the American has produced and he holds to love.

Agassi 5-5 Pavel
Pavel's nerve holds and he levels comfortably to subdue the locals.

Agassi 5-4 Pavel
Another high-quality game gets the crowd going again - this time Agassi saves himself from deuce with a forehand volley that he hits like a smash followed by an ace.

Agassi 4-4 Pavel
Another fizzing Pavel forehand winner seals the game but it is the Romanian who looks to be suffering more from the fast pace the two men are setting.

Agassi 4-3 Pavel
Agassi opens with an ace and races through the game - as ever he looks to be in a hurry in everything he does on court.

Agassi 3-3 Pavel
Agassi gets to break point and looks to be dominating the crucial rally before Pavel comes up with a cross-court forehand winner from nowhere. The Romanian steps up his game and is now taking the ball as early as Agassi.

Agassi 3-2 Pavel
Agassi looks in danger at 15-30 down but he comes through a long and tense rally with some patient play and goes on to holds serve.

Agassi 2-2 Pavel
Pavel is not just along for the ride and levels with an impressive service game.

Agassi 2-1 Pavel
The crowd is brought sharply back down to earth when Agassi puts a forehand long to concede the break back immediately, although the quality of play remains high from both men.

Agassi 2-0 Pavel
Both men have come out firing and are thumping the ball at a fierce pace. Agassi has been struggling with back and hip injuries all year but looks in great shape early on, dominating Pavel from the baseline and breaking serve at the first opportunity.