US Open to continue without Agassi

NEW YORK—U.S. Open tennis continues today, a day after Andre Agassi played his last match. Amelie Mauresmo takes on Serena Williams today. Also in action are Justine Henin-Hardenne, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Lleyton Hewitt and Lindsay Davenport.
Andre Agassi became a former pro tennis player when he lost to Benjamin Becker 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round of the U.S. Open yesterday. The 36-year-old Agassi showed flashes of his top form, but not enough to beat the 112th-ranked challenger. Becker ended the match with a 133-mile-an-hour ace.
After the match, Agassi received a long, thunderous ovation and thanked the fans for their tremendous support. He announced earlier this summer that he would retire after the Open, which he won twice and finished second three times.
Agassi burst onto the tennis scene with long hair, denim jeans and plenty of moxie. He leaves with eight Grand Slam titles and a sore back after two decades on the tour.
The day also included a couple upsets on the men's side. Fourth seed David Nalbandian was beaten by 2000 U.S. Open champ Marat Safin in the second round. And number-eleven David Ferrer dropped his third-round match in four sets to Mikhail Youznhy
Men's top seed Roger Federer cruised into the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 rout of American Vincent Spadea.
Third-round winners on the men's side also include second seed Rafael Nadal, fifth seed James Blake, sixth seed Tommy Robredo, number-seven Nikolay Davydenko number-nine Andy Roddick.
Serena Williams has hardly looked like an unseeded player at the U.S. Open. Williams has reached the fourth round with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 rout of 16th seed Ana Ivanovic.
Top seed Amelie Mauresmo was extended to a third set in her third-round match before beating Mara Santangelo 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Number-three Maria Sharapova had little trouble beating countrywoman Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-2.
Number-ten Lindsay Davenport also reached the round of 16, outlasting Katarina Srebotnik 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. Davenport is joined by seventh seed Patty Schnyder and number-12 Dinara Safina.
Tatiana Golovin of France upset fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova of Russia 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 in their third rounder. And number-13 Mary Pierce was ousted by number-24 Li Na 4-6, 6-0, 6-0.—Agencies