Agassi advances at Clay championships

HOUSTON -- Second-seeded Andre Agassi overcame a loss in the first set, rallying to beat Alex Calatrava 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 Thursday night and advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.

Agassi appeared to have the match under control when he broke Calatrava in the sixth game of the third set and took a 4-2 lead. But his serve failed him in the next game as he double-faulted twice and was broken.

Calatrava held in the eighth game and pulled even at 4-all by serving a love game.

Agassi held serve in the ninth game and had Calatrava at match point in the 10th before the Spaniard extended the set.

Agassi finally got the victory in the 12th game. He hit a backhand down the line for a winner to force the second match point and followed with another backhand to the same corner.

Agassi will take on France's Sebastian Grosjean in the quarterfinals.

Agassi nearly squandered a 4-1 lead in the second set. Calatrava broke serve in the seventh game and both players stayed on serve until the 10th game, when Calatrava double-faulted to force set point. Agassi hit a forehand winner down the line for take the second set.

Agassi fell behind 2-5 in the opening set. He made a strong challenge in the eighth game, fighting off two set points to hold serve. Calatrava got him in the next game, winning on the third set point on Agassi's service return error.

Grosjean beat Oscar Hernandez of Spain 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.