TENNIS/US Open Championships: The triumphant, visceral roar that rent the New York skies in the early hours of yesterday morning signalled the clear and apparently unequivocal message that Andre Agassi's farewell had been extended to at least another match. Yet even as he defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 some might justifiably have wondered if this was a message in the best interests of the sport.
The man from Las Vegas, suffering from chronic back problems that, before this week, had reduced his schedule this year to a mere seven tournaments, and eight victories, had awakened on Tuesday morning after his first-round victory over Romania's Andrei Pavel barely able to move, let alone hit a tennis ball. The solution was a 30-minute cortisone shot, administered via a seven-inch needle.
Those in charge of the game might ponder exactly what this signalled to the rest of the world. New Yorkers will not care two hoots, and the fact this is the 36-year-old Agassi's last tournament will be seen as the sort of extenuating circumstance that justified the means.
Yet as uncomfortable as the injection was for Agassi, the ITF, the world governing body, and the ATP, in charge of men's professional tennis, should be feeling every bit as uncomfortable themselves. Cortisone and painkillers are far too prevalent in tennis.
In fact it was the 21-year-old Baghdatis, this year's runner-up in the Australian Open and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, who almost failed to finish this 228-minute second-round match because of cramp, brought on by the intense stress and drama of the occasion in front of 23,000 baying supporters who were happy to cheer whenever the young man from Cyprus made a mistake.
Baghdatis was philosophical. "It could be seen as unfair but so many things happen in life that aren't fair. So you just have to find the solution to make them fair and try not to cry about it."
As a youngster he had cried a good deal when he left home to learn his craft in Paris. Now, despite this defeat, the world number eight is reaping the rewards. Agassi next faces the German qualifier Benjamin Becker (no relation to Boris), assuming his back continues to respond to the cortisone.
Before the tumultuous atmosphere of Agassi's victory, a half-full Arthur Ashe Stadium had been all but silenced by the 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Martina Hingis by France's Virginie Razzano, ranked outside the world's top 100 and with a sequence of first-round defeats stretching back to May. Suddenly the Hingis comeback has come off the rails and her understandably defiant "it's not over yet" declaration had a hollow ring.
Fundamentally, Hingis's game has not changed since she decided to retire in 2002, and left tennis for three years. Her serve is as vulnerable as ever, while she remains susceptible to power, although this was a little shocking because it was not one of the world's big hitters on the other side of the net.
Hingis, 26 later this month, who won the US Open title in 1997, one of her five grand slam titles, has just returned to the top 10, having reached the quarter-finals of the Australian and French Opens this year. That is testimony to her enduring skills and mental agility, coupled with the many hours of hard work off court. So where did this leave her comeback?
"This is probably not the best time to ask," said Hingis. "You can't be down on yourself all the way because of one defeat. I have my people around me, my support system, so we shall just have to sit back and assess things."
It was Hingis's earliest-ever exit at the US Open, and in a major tournament this year. At Wimbledon, she was beaten in the third round by Japan's Ai Sugiyama and was given a rough time here in the opening round on Wednesday before defeating China's Peng Shuai in three sets.
"The difference, now I'm back in the top 10, is that the players have seen me around, and they have nothing to lose any more compared to when I started the year" - a statement almost as limp as her performance.
Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport were impressive in winning through to the third round. The unseeded Williams - a wild-card entrant after slipping to number 91 in the rankings while out injured - overcame a listless start to defeat the 17th-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3. Williams trailed 5-2 in the first set before storming back.
Davenport, the 10th seed, enjoyed a 6-0, 6-0 trouncing of Croatia's Jelena Kostanic.
It is the third time this year Davenport has kept an opponent scoreless but the first at the US Open since 2002. The American was unapologetic.
"I just think the mindset, especially at a grand slam, you just do what you need to do and try and do everything as best you can."
Meanwhile, Maria Sharapova demolished Emilie Loit 6-0, 6-1, and the top seed, Amelie Mauresmo, won 6-4, 6-3 against Mara Santangelo.
Guardian Service
