Agassi rolls on, nixes talk about retirement

NEW YORK -- Maybe it's time for Andre Agassi to pick on someone his own age. These kids just can't keep up with him.

Fit as a rookie at 34, Agassi advanced at the U.S. Open on Thursday by running ragged a player more than a dozen years younger for the second straight match.

Agassi, playing in his 19th straight Open, weathered a one-set blip, regained control, and led 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 when Florian Mayer walked to the net to quit with a left hamstring injury.

"I just don't want to play old. That's what I'm concerned about out there," said Agassi, the most experienced man in the field. "I feel like if I can still play my tennis, then I'm proud of that."

Thursday's matches featured Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova being extended to three sets again, Venus Williams struggling, and Olympic double gold medalist Nicolas Massu's wild 5-hour, 10-minute loss to Sargis Sargsian.

The 10th-seeded Massu was docked a game for smashing his racket so hard off the court it flew over his head, then engaged an official in a 10-minute argument, and wound up getting beaten 6-7 (6), 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the second-longest match -- by time -- in Open history.

Agassi was asked Thursday if his post-Open tennis schedule was set.

"Well," he responded, "let this be a signal: I'm not considering retiring at the end of this tournament. Let that be a big flare."

The two French Open champions bowed out in the second round: Anastasia Myskina lost to 17-year-old qualifier Anna Chakvetadze 7-6 (3), 6-3 Thursday, and Gaston Gaudio was beaten by 2002 Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Myskina's loss knocks her out of what the competition for the No. 1 ranking. Still in it: Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo and Lindsay Davenport.

While Davenport stretched her winning streak to 19 matches with relative ease Thursday, defending Open champion Henin-Hardenne struggled before putting away Israeli qualifier Tzipi Obziler 6-2, 5-7, 6-2.

Sharapova slipped by Jelena Jankovic 6-0, 6-7 (5), 6-1. Williams looked to be in trouble against Shikha Uberoi before winning 7-5, 6-1.

Olympic silver medalist Mardy Fish was upset 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 by Michal Tabara, ranked 149th.