When Gustavo Kuerten, last year's runner-up and the top seed this time, walked on court the atmosphere was like a football match with fans chanting and cheering and waving the Brazilian flag. The world number one got through the match but it was a bit of a struggle after the first set - he defeated Hicham Arazi 6-1, 6-7, 6-4.

Under the lights Andre Agassi taught promising American Taylor Dent a bit of a lesson. Their only other meeting, at Wimbledon last year, was an impressive effort even though Agassi won after Dent retired injured. This time Agassi took charge from the start and claimed the match 6-4, 6-2.

The German Tommy Haas was in trouble against the Aussie lefty Wayne Arthurs who had won the first set, but Haas came back to win 3-6, 7-6, 6-3. The Swedes Magnus Norman and Thomas Johansson were also winners and David Prinosil ousted Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-2.

Philippoussis, who has now defeated Chang the last four times they have played to level their head to head series, said he was not troubled by the suspect left knee that has been his Achilles heel in recent times. He said there was no pain which was evident as he moved about the court freely striking some sensational forehand crosscourt winners. He says he is icing it for 15 minutes after matches and makes sure it's warmed up before he plays and plays with a guard on it.

Philippoussis said that one of his goals this year is "to make the appearance down in Sydney at the end of the year (Tennis Masters Cup)".

Rafter was happy with his effort. He had never seen Bryan play before so it took a couple of games to sort things out and once he did it was "bye bye Bobby" as someone in the stands called out.

It is rare indeed that a hardcourt tournament eludes Lindsay Davenport, but the Ericsson Open falls into that category and she says this is a title she really wants to win but at the same time is not placing the pressure on herself. She says she has done "okay but never good". In ten years she has made the final and two semis which she determines as "not great results".

Davenport did not have to spend too much time on court when she played Daja Bedanova who retired half way through the second set, 6-1, 4-1. The Czech player was suffering from "heat illness" which had started during a practice session earlier in the day.

Jennifer Capriati lost just four games in her match against Jennifer Hopkins, breezing through 6-4, 6-0. The Australian Open champion was naturally very happy with the result seeing that she was playing someone she didn't know and she "just got the kinks out".

Serena Williams, playing her first match since winning the Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells, defeated Pavlina Nola 6-1, 6-4, but Williams was of the opinion that she was a bit too erratic in this match and she was "just getting in the mood of things". She said that Nola was hitting the ball with a lot of spin and that was slowing the match down which normally goes totally against Williams' grain who likes to play the ball very fast.

Davenport was pleased with the way she served but suggested it was difficult to gauge where here game is after such a brief match.

"Any hardcourt tournament I feel is, I'm a favourite for, and is a benefit to me to be on this surface," said Davenport. "It's the last hardcourt tournament for a long time, so I'll give it my best shot."

Capriati indicated that she wants to lift her first serve percentage a bit but conceded that she does not have to hit the serve any harder. She believes she is very focused on her tennis and there are no other distractions in her life.

"I've just been consistent with my work habits and my goals and I'm keeping the same goals in mind, so I think that's what makes me more consistent," said Capriati.

The American press has nothing on its Australian counterpart.

In the past year, two players opted to leave or stay out of Australia in large part because of the media there. In January, Belgrade-born Jelena Dokic rescinded her ties to the country she emigrated to in 1994 and now is playing under Yugoslavia's flag.

Miami resident and 15th seed Mark Philippoussis was prepared to move back to Melbourne last year but thought better of it.

``I did consider that for a very short time, but I changed my mind very quickly,'' said Philippoussis, following his 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 win over Michael Chang on Saturday. ``What topped it off was going back to Australia and just pretty much seeing how the press was and realizing that I'm not going to have any peace and quiet at home.

``It was just impossible, which is unfortunate because I have family and friends that I love back home. When things like that keep you away from the people you love, it frustrates you a lot.''

Adding to Philippoussis' frustration was his recovery from knee surgery. Philippoussis underwent the procedure in December and missed the Australian Open. He made his 2001 debut last month at Memphis and won the tournament.

``I'm icing it 15 minutes [after workouts], I'm making sure it's warmed up,'' Philippoussis said. ``The orthopedic surgeon told me that I'll have pains, problems for three to six months after the surgery, so it's to be expected.''

Pete Sampras doesn't share Marcelo Rios' take on Andy Roddick as ``nothing special.'' The defending Ericsson champion, Sampras recognizes today's opponent as part of future of American men's tennis.

The two will meet for the first time with a spot in the fourth round at stake. Making his second Ericsson main draw appearance in as many years, Roddick, 18, in 2000 faced Andre Agassi in the second round.

``I won't be going in just to compete well again,'' said Roddick, who lost to Agassi last year in Miami. ``I'm going to go in and try to take my chances, and we'll see what happens. Obviously, he's the greatest player of all time. I'm glad that I'm going to get the chance to play both [Agassi and Sampras].''

EASY WINS TO RAFTER, SCUD

Foxsports.com.au

25 March 2001

News Interactive

MIAMI: Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis reached the third round of the $US6.12 million ($12.5m) Masters Series here today, carving out straight-set wins over American opponents. Double US Open champion Rafter, seeded eighth, beat Bob Bryan in an easy 6-2 6-1 match, while 16th seeded Philippoussis was untroubled by veteran Michael Chang, although he had a hrader tussle, 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.

Chang won his opening match over Spaniard Albert Portas but has now been beaten four times in a row by Philippoussis, who has fully recovered from his knee surgery in late December.

German David Prinosil upset Briton Greg Rusedski 6-3 6-2. And Jerome Golmard won an all-French battle, putting out two-time Grand Slam finalist Cedric Pioline 7-5 7-6 (7-3). On the women's side of the draw, Russian No.7 Elena Dementieva advanced when American Alexandra Stevenson retired injured trailing 6-2 2-0. Czech Kveta Hrdlickova, meanwhile, ousted No.16 Austrian Barbara Schett 6-4 7-5.

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