The U.S. Open tennis tournament opened its second week in New York with several top players in action. In a late match Monday, American Venus Williams overpowered Sandrine Testud of France 6-4, 6-0. Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina was a 6-4, 7-6, 7-5 winner over Xavier Malisse of Belgium, in a match between unseeded players.
In perhaps the marquee match of the day, a battle of two former U.S. Open champions, American Pete Sampras got past Australian Patrick Rafter, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4. American Andre Agassi was a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 winner over Roger Federer. Agassi says he is looking forward to another meeting with Sampras.
"You give it all you have got. And if you win, you have done something pretty incredible by beating one of the game's best," he said. " And if you lose, you are part of something of a challenge and an opportunity that you are not going to get very often. So while it is a can't lose for the fans, I really believe when you talk about guys who have been on the tour as long as me, Pat [Rafter] and Pete [Sampras], it is a can't lose for us as well."
In the women's draw, second seeded American Jennifer Capriati reached the quarterfinal round with an easy 6-3, 6-3 victory over Barbara Schett of Austria. Two women needed three sets to win after surviving second set slumps.
Kim Cljisters of Belgium defeated Elena Dimentieva of Russia, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2. Amelie Mauresmo ousted Nathalie Tauziat in a French duel, 6-0, 6-7, 6-3.