Agassi leads way into third round
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Agassi is yet to drop a set.
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Defending champion Andre Agassi's bid for a fifth Australian Open title continued with a 6-0 6-2 6-4 win over Czech Tomas Berdych in the second round.
Top seed Andy Roddick also overcame Czech opposition, beating Bohdan Ulihrach 6-2 6-2 6-3.
In the women's event, top seed Justine Henin-Hardenne beat France's Camille Pin 6-1 6-4, while fourth seed Amelie Mauresmo crushed Ludmila Cervanova.
Veteran Agassi, seeded fourth, gave his teenage opponent an 82-minute masterclass, converting six of eight break points and finishing with an ace.
"Today felt really good. There was a lot of quality ball-striking going on from both sides," said Agassi, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament.
Roddick, who works with Agassi's former coach Brad Gilbert, also looked in good shape against Ulihrach, but the 21-year-old faces a tough third round match against 27th-seeded compatriot Taylor Dent.
"He's got everything. He can break serve, he can serve big," said Roddick.
"I think it's just a matter of it coming together for him. Hopefully he'll delay it for a couple more days."
In other matches, Frenchman Nicolas Escude had a 6-3 7-6 6-4 win over Robin Soderling, the first-round conqueror of sixth seed Rainer Schuettler, to extend his stretch to seven matches without dropping a set.
Dutch 16th seed Sjeng Schalken beat David Ferrer in four sets and veteran American Todd Martin -- who rallied from two sets down to win in the first round – out-slugged giant Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 7-6 7-6.
Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil reached the third round for the first time with a 7-5 6-7 6-4 6-3 win over Croatian Ivan Ljubicic while Marat Safin's comeback from injury continued, with the Russian 2002 runner-up beating Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-4.
Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded 13th, also advanced when Frenchman Jerome Golmard retired with a thigh injury.
Gastric virus
Tournament favorite Henin-Hardenne complained that she was struggling with a gastric virus against Pin, dropping her serve as she struggled with fatigue in the second set.
"I've not been feeling well for two or three days now," said the 21-year-old.
"I wasn't feeling great on court. I lost a little bit of my concentration."
France's Mauresmo, beaten by Henin-Hardenne in a Sydney warm-up final last weekend, said the absence of past champions Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati made her feel she could improve on her appearance in the 1999 final.
"I take it as it comes. I played tough matches in Sydney last week," said Mauresmo.
"Probably there is an opportunity of taking this tournament, not only because players are absent but because I'm feeling good," said Mauresmo.
Lindsay Davenport, seeded fifth and the only former champion in the draw, advanced to the third round with a 6-3 3-6 6-0 win over France's Emilie Loit and Russian 11th seed Vera Zvonareva beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 7-5 6-4.
Other seeded players into the third round were 19th seed Eleni Daniilidou of Greece (19) and Russian 30th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Daniilidou beat Zimbabwe's Cara Black 3-6 6-0 6-1 and Kuznetsova beat Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti 7-6 6-4.
But 15th-seeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova was dumped out 6-4 6-3 by local favorite Alicia Molik, and 24th seed Magdalena Maleeva was beaten 6-7 6-2 6-3 by Hungary's Petra Mandula.
