Irish Open: Andre Agassi's head would have turned had he been at Fitzwilliam yesterday for the opening shots in the men's Irish Open tennis championships.

Agassi's name was the most talked about among the young professionals and clearly the American has been responsible for so many of the up and coming stars taking up the game.

Big winner and top seed Jenko Tipsarovic of Serbia was even encouraged to quit a promising soccer career to take up the court game because of the influence of his American hero. So far the move from soccer to the court has been a wise one for the Serb.

Tipsarovic is the 22-year-old who went close to causing the big shock at Wimbledon's first week by forcing Andy Roddock into a competitive fourth set.

"I should have won that match but did not make use of my chances," said the Serb after advancing to the second round yesterday. Tipsarovic has another fine scalp under his belt, that of Andy Murray at the Queens club this year.

The talented Serb, ranked 101st in the world, takes over the number one seeded spot in Dublin from Italian Daniele Bracciali, who was injured at Wimbledon and had to withdraw.

Tipsarovic got early breaks in both sets for a 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Nicolas Renavand.

Yet another Agassi former teenage follower, 22-year-old Pole Adam Chadai, saw off the challenge of Ireland's Stephen Nugent in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

Ireland's Peter Clarke had a dual aim on his mind, that of beating the Czech Republic's Jan Masik and thereby winning a place on Ireland's team for Davis Cup duty against Slovenia in Dublin later this month. He was successful on both counts, beating the Czech 7-6, 6-4.