Tennis: Reneberg pulls out

OLYMPIC GAMES

Richey Reneberg, a late replacement for Pete Sampras in Olympic singles, retired because of a groin injury in the third set of his opening-round match yesterday against Leander Paes of India. They had split tiebreakers in the first two sets.

Reneberg's injury left his status in doubt for doubles, which he is scheduled to play with MaliVai Washington. Reneberg joined the singles draw as the No. 11 seed after the top-ranked Sampras pulled out with a strained Achilles' tendon last week.

Washington won his Olympic debut, staging a second-set comeback to beat Jan Kroslak of the Slovak Republic 6-3, 7-6. Washington, Wimbledon finalist this year, won after trailing 4-1 in the second set.

Third-seeded Thomas Enqvist of Sweden needed two hours to beat Marc-Kevin Goellner of Germany 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. In women's play, second-seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain beat Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-1, 6-2.

Monica Seles is having a great time so far at her first Olympics, and not just because of Tuesday's 6-0, 6-4 opening-round victory over Li Chen of China.

Andre Agassi also made a successful Olympic debut Tuesday, beating Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 7-6, 7-6. Both Agassi and Seles are seeded No 1.