Agassi to get tested early in Open swan song

NEW YORK, Aug 23 (Reuters) Twice former US Open champion Andre Agassi makes his farewell tennis performance at the Open starting on Monday, but it might be a brief curtain call for the 36-year-old given his place in the draw held today.

Last year, Agassi thrilled New York crowds by winning three successive five-set matches to become the oldest man to compete for the singles title since 39-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1974. It took world number one Roger Federer four sets to halt him.

The charismatic American, who has posted an 8-7 record in limited play this season, will have to find his form early if he is to work his way deep into the 2006 tournament for a satisfying swan song.

He opens his 21st consecutive US championships against 32-year-old Andrei Pavel of Romania, who has lost four of five matches against the Las Vegas showman.

Waiting in the wings, however, is a likely tough test against eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis, 21, of Cyprus.

Agassi has won eight grand slam trophies among 60 titles and more than 31 million dollars in his career, while Baghdatis has yet to win a tournament and earned about 1.3 million dollars on the court.

Yet the Cypriot, who slugged his way to the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semi-final, is just the sort of player to give Agassi fits.

''Baghdatis plays a very similar style to Andre. And that's why I think it will be a difficult match up,'' US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe said at the draw conducted at the United Nations to celebrate the global nature of tennis.

''He's very good off both sides. He can take the ball early and go up the line pretty easily.

''I think Andre likes to play someone at this stage who can't move that quickly. Baghdatis has the ability to take the ball early and make Andre change directions quickly.

''If Baghdatis is on and healthy and fit, I think that's avery tough match for Andre to win right now.'' Should he get by Baghdatis, the unseeded Agassi would have a likely third-round match against 30th seed Sebastien Grosjean of France on the way to a possible seismic fourth-round collision with Andy Roddick, the ninth seed who was the last American man to win a grand slam crown at the Open in 2003.

Waiting in the quarter-finals is projected to be third-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, provided he can get past 15th-seeded former US champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in their expected fourth-round clash.

REUTERS VJ BST0324