STOCKHOLM, Sweden, 26 October 2004 — Davide Sanguinetti was extended to one of the longest tiebreaks in Stockholm Open history before advancing to the second round at the Royal Tennis Hall yesterday.
The Italian, a semifinalist last year but a qualifier this time, won a 26-point tiebreak in a 7-6, 6-2 win over Norway’s Jan Frode Andersen on center court.
Also winning early first-round matches in the ($822,000) event, which is one of the world’s oldest indoor tournaments, were Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States, Michael Tabara of the Czech Republic, Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and Montenegro and Johan Zettergren of Sweden.
Gambill beat Jarkko Nieminen, a Finn who made his breakthrough here in 2001 by reaching the final, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2.
Tabara ousted Pablo Figueroa of Sweden, 6-4, 6-0, while Tipsarevic outlasted Marcus Sarstrand of Sweden, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 and Zettergren edged Frederik Nielsen of Denmark, 7-6, 7-6.
Andre Agassi, who has not played in the Swedish capital since 1994 when the tournament was held across town in the much bigger Globe Arena, is seeded No. 1 ahead of Sweden’s Joachim Johansson.
Thomas Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open champion from Sweden, played Xavier Malisse of Belgium in the featured center court match during the evening session.
Agassi to Begin Chase for Masters Cup Place
In Stockholm, Andre Agassi was set to intensify his chase for a place in next month’s eight-man Masters Cup, with yesterday arrival in Sweden to compete as top seed at the 632,750-euro Stockholm Open.
Three days after losing to Marat Safin in the semifinals of the Madrid Masters, the 34-year-old American was preparing for a big push to earn a late place in the season wrap-up which begins Nov. 15. Already on site for several days in the Swedish capital is Agassi’s coach, Darren Cahill, who has been studying a tape of his charge’s loss in Spain.
Together they will go over the defeat to Safin with a fine toochcomb ahead of Agassi’s first first round match against Belgian Kristof Vliegen. ATP officials yesterday confirmed Agassi’s arrival, saying the eight-time Grand Slam champion had confirmed he would play after sounding somewhat disinterested in carrying on after his elimination in Madrid.
The veteran can start earning points to the good as soon as the second round and can only add to his total of 393 the farther he progresses.
Agassi is in provisional eighth place in a field from which Roger Federer, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt have already qualified.
Argentine Gaston Gaudio also has an entry by virtue of his French Open title.
Agassi has this week in Stockholm and next week at the concluding Paris Bercy Masters to book one of the four spots remaining.
There was limited action on court at the Kungligahallen on opening day, with No. 3 Andrei Pavel the only seed on court. The third-seeded Romanian moved into the second round after beating Argentine Agustin Calleri 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
American Jan-Michael Gambill handed Finn Jarkko Nieminen an unpleasant reminder of past poor performances.
Nieminen, who reached a surprise final as a qualifier in 2001, losing to Sjeng Schalken, has now lost in the first round for three consecutive years. He went out to Gambill 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-2 to keep that unwanted streak alive.
Swede Joachim Johansson, a US Open finalist, is seeded second and will open against Chile’s Adrian Garcia happy to not to be travelling.
Myskina Out With Flu at Generali Ladies Tournament
In Linz, Austria, French Open winner Anastasia Myskina has pulled out of the $585,000 Generali Ladies tennis tournament because of a bout of flu, organizers said yesterday.
Second-seeded Myskina, who was leading a six-player Russian armada into Austria’s biggest women’s tennis tournament, “is suffering from the flu and has to stay in bed, she told us,” tournament organizer Peter Michael Reichel told The Associated Press.
“She had been ill since playing in Moscow and her health condition has worsened again,” Reichel said. After US Open winner Svetlana Kusnetsova, Myskina is the second Russian star to withdraw from the tournament, which runs through Sunday.
However, No. 3 seed Serena Williams will move to the other end of the roster and take Myskina’s place in the draw, organizers said.
