Agassi joins the establishment

Tennis

Siding with the establishment is not usually Andre Agassi's style, but the Las Vegan made an exception here by offering sympathy to the beleaguered United States Tennis Association.

Agassi and his American compatriot Michael Chang were notable absentees when 50 leading players gathered on the eve of the US Open to demand that the Grand Slam championships adhere to the ATP Tour world rankings in future.

Chang, promoted to No 2 seed above Austria's Thomas Muster, did, however, express support for his peers after winning his opening match against the Brazilian Jaime Oncins, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-6. "I think the USTA will probably think twice about doing it next year," Chang said.

Agassi, raised in the seedings from seven to six, marked his 100th Grand Slam victory with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win against Colombia's Mauricio Hadad. He then appealed for a ceasefire in the political sniping which has escalated since the USTA was forced to remake men's singles draw after failing to announce the seedings in advance.

"I was a little disappointed with the ATP choosing this as their platform and choosing this as their fight to fight," Agassi said. "The ATP has used the US Open for a platform to announce many things, including the start of their Tour. Then for the USTA to make an admitted mistake and for them [The ATP] to prey upon it, try to somehow take advantage of the situation here in their backyard is disappointing. I can't be part of that.''

Asked if he felt out of step with the majority of the players, Agassi said. "I've been down that road. Six years ago the ATP used me to stand up and support and make the Tour happen. My weight was more than just one player. Then somehow, when it comes to any change that I disagree with, my weight is only one vote.

Agassi considered himself poorly treated when an ATP Tour supervisor, Mark Darby, ordered his disqualification for swearing at an umpire during the recent tournament in Indianapolis. "It's something I've said a thousand times, and today they decide that I crossed the line," he complained.

Unseeded when winning the US Open title in 1994, Agassi adopted a philosophical stance on this occasion. "I don't worry really where I'm seeded," he said. "I got the better end of the deal, so to say much more than that might lead one to believe that I just like the fact that it worked out for me.''

It has not worked out at all for some, among them Jim Courier, the No 8 seed, who has withdrawn from Agassi's half of the draw because of a bruised knee.

Pete Sampras, the defending champion, had a change of first-round opponent when an ankle injury ruled out Romania's Adrian Voinea. Enter Jimy Szymanski, a lucky loser from Venezuela, ranked No 164. Exit Szymanski, 2-6, 2-6, 1-6.

In the women's singles, Monica Seles, runner-up to Steffi Graf last year, made a brisk start, dispatching Anne Miller, a 19-year-old American, 6- 0, 6-1.