ROME, 6 May 2003 — World number one and defending champion Andre Agassi was sent tumbling out of the Rome Masters Series in the first round after losing to plucky Spaniard David Ferrer here yesterday.

Agassi appeared to be on his way to a comfortable victory after taking the first set to love in the blazing Rome sunshine.

But Ferrer, who had lost his last six first round matches, battled back bravely to earn a memorable 0-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory against the number one seed.

Ferrer, 21, said his game came together after he overcame stage fright at the Foro Italico.

“I was very nervous, playing on center court against Andre Agassi, the world number one,” he said.

Agassi, who made 39 unforced errors, offered no excuses for a lackluster display against a player 12 years his junior.

Earlier Tim Henman crashed out after losing 6-2, 6-1 to exciting Argentinian Guillermo Coria. Still struggling to find his best form following shoulder surgery in November, Henman looked uncomfortable in the blazing Rome sunshine and was easily swept aside by the 21-year-old South American.

Seventh seed Alberto Costa advanced safely through to the second round after defeating Croatia’s Zeljko Krajan 6-4, 7-5.

In the day’s other matches in the Italian capital, Croatian Ivan Ljubicic beat Xavier Malisse of Belgium 6-2, 6-4 and American Mardy Fish defeated Frenchman Fabrice Santoro 7-5, 7-5.

Pierce, Dementieva Injured,

Sugiyama Loses at German Open

In Berlin, former French Open champion Mary Pierce joined 10th seed Elena Dementieva in pulling out injured while 13 seed Ai Sugiyama crashed out on a bad opening day for prominent players at the $1.2 million German Open yesterday.

Pierce led 5-1 against Spain’s Virginia Ruano Pascual but then injured her right groin and retired after losing the first set 7-6 (9-7). Dementieva lasted until the third set against fellow-Russian Dinara Safina before a foot injury made play impossible for her when she was trailing 2-6, 6-2, 1-0.

Sugiyama played until the end and saved four match points, but finally ran out of luck in a 6-1, 7-5 defeat against Swiss teenager Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian.

Austrian Barbara Schett, meanwhile, rallied from 5-2 down in the second set to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Laura Granville of the United States.

Other winners on the sunny but windy day included Nathalie Dechy of France, Elena Likhovtseva of Russia, and Spain’s Magui Serna.

The eight top seeds headed by Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin Hardenne, the title holder, had a bye into the second round.