Andre Agassi, angered by the sacking of US Davis Cup team doctor George Fareed, has said he will never play in the tournament again. "I'm done with it," Agassi said. "I never say never (but) I'm never playing again."

Agassi said the dismissal of Fareed, a personal friend, was just the latest in a string of insensitive moves by the US Tennis Association (USTA).

Agassi was angered last year by the USTA's decision to stage the semi-final tie against Italy in Milwaukee, instead of somewhere in the US southwest where he could play and keep a charity commitment in Las Vegas.

Agassi's remarks, in the wake of his second-round loss to Dominik Hrbaty in the Lipton Championships in Florida, were put down in part to disappointment by Davis Cup coach Tom Gullikson.

"It might be an emotional reaction to the loss," Gullikson said. "I hope he'll reconsider his position."

The United States takes on Britain in Birmingham in the first round next month. Britain will be led by Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman. Gullikson is expected to announce a squad led by Jim Courier and Todd Martin.

On court, it was double trouble for Agassi as the American star ended his opening match with a pair of double faults to hand the win to Hrbaty 1-6 6-3 6-2.

Newly crowned world number one Carlos Moya squeaked past Jason Stoltenberg, contributing to an exodus of Australians that also included fifth-seeded Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis.

Henman, the sixth seed, was beaten again by France's Jerome Golmard, who got the better of him in the quarter-finals at Dubai in February. The Frenchman rallied from a 5-3 deficit in the second set, and saved a set point in the tiebreaker to finish off Henman in two: 6-4 7-6 (9/7).

Rusedski kept Britain in the hunt, breezing through a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Hendrik Dreekman.

Women's world number one and top seed Martina Hingis advanced with ease, as did third-seeded Monica Seles and seventh seed Steffi Graf. Australian Open finalist Amelie Mauresmo was stunned by Russian Elena Likhotsevea 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-1.