Two-time champion Andre Agassi kept his U.S. Open tennis tournament campaign going Saturday in New York with a four-set, third-round victory over 19-year-old Czech Thomas Berdych. Agassi, who is 35, rallied after losing the first set to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6.
American James Blake pulled off a major upset Saturday by ousting the men's second seed and reigning French Open champion Rafael Nadal of Spain in four sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Blake, ranked 49th in the world, advanced to the fourth round of the tournament for the first time.
Also on Saturday in men's action, French teenager Richard Gasquet defeated Ivan Lubicic of Croatia in a five set thriller, 3-6, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. Chile's Olympic champion Nicolas Massu made the fourth round by easily beating Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0.
In women's play, seventh seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium smoothly won her third round first set against Cho Yoon-jeong of South Korea, 6-0. But then the South Korean fought back and the current French Open champion struggled to a 7-6 second set victory, pulling out the tiebreaker, 7-4.
In other third round women's matches on Saturday, sixth seed Elena Dementieva of Russia also had a tough time advancing, just barely getting by fellow Russian and 29th seed, Anna Chakvetadze, 6-1, 4-6 , 7-6 in a two hour and 12 minute marathon. 11th seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland defeated the 24th seed, Shinobu Asagoe of Japan, 6-1, 6-3 and 19th seed, Elena Likhovtseva of Russia beat 13th seed Anastasia Myskina of Russia with a strong comeback, 0-6, 6-3, 7-6.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
