Agassi's Washington doubles debut cut short

The fans at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington got to see something a little different from Andre Agassi.

The fans at the Legg Mason Classic in Washington got to see something a little different from Andre Agassi.

Agassi played doubles on Monday, and someone else had to stop because of a bad back.

Agassi, a five-time winner of the tournament and the top seed in singles, saw his Washington doubles debut cut short when Sweden's Peter Nyborg could not continue after a brief rain delay because of a sore back.

Nyborg and his partner Cyril Suk led 5-4 in the first set against Agassi and Sargis Sargasian of Armenia when a brief shower sent the players to the locker room.

Agassi, who has only one career doubles title, was playing doubles to test his back, which forced him to pull out of last week's tournament in Cincinnati.

"I've turned a physical corner this week," Agassi said after the match. "I feel with Monday's doubles I'm playing half the court and hitting half the shots."

Agassi did hold serve twice, but never looked completely comfortable at net.

Also Monday, Chris Woodruff, the 13th seed, was upset by Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

Gonzalez at times overpowered the American with 12 aces, but his inconsistency canceled out his power-also finishing with 12 double faults.

"I was very nervous," Gonzalez said. "I made two double faults and then hit an ace. This gave me confidence.

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan made his Legg Mason debut a good one by beating Jason Stoltenberg of Australia, the 15th seed, 6-4, 6-4 for Monday's other upset.

Karol Kucera, the ninth seed and only seed to win Monday, had no trouble beating local qualifier Paul Harsanyi 6-1, 6-0.

In other singles action, Belgium's Christophe Rochus beat Bob Bryan 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Bryan's twin brother, Mike Bryan, didn't do much better as he was beaten by Spain's Galo Blanco 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1.

The youngest player in the field, 17-year-old Andy Roddick beat Adrian Voinea 6-3, 6-4. Davide Sanguinetti of Italy beat Attila Savolt of Hungary 6-3, 6-2. Fernando Meligeni rallied to beat Juan Antonio Marin of Costa Rica 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-1. Meligeni will play Agassi on Tuesday in the second round.

Results from the $725,000 Legg Mason Classic ATP Tour hard-court tourament:

Singles - First Round

Christophe Rochus, Belgium, def. Bob Bryan, United States, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Jerome Golmard (10), France, def. Jan Kroslak, Slovakia, 6-4, 6-2. Juan Antonio Marin, Costa Rica, def. Fernando Meligeni, Brazil 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-1 Rainer Schuttler (12), Germany, def. Andrea Gaudenzi, Italy, 6-4, 6-4. Guillermo Coria, Argentina, def. George Bastl, Switzerland, 6-3, 7-6 (5). Fernando Gonzalez, def. Chile Chris Woodruff (13), United States, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Davide Sanguinetti, Italy, def. Attila Savolt, Hungary, 6-3, 6-2. Paradorn Sripchaphan, Thailand, def. Jason Stoltenberg (15), Australia, 6-4, 6-4. Kevin Kim, United States, def. David Caldwell, United States, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Jiri Vanek, Czech Republic, def. Lars Burgsmuller, Germany, 6-4, 6-4. Galo Blanco, Spain, def. Mike Bryan, United States, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-1. Wayne Arthurs, Australia, def. Mashiska Washington, United States, 6-0, 6-1. Ivan Ljubicic, Croatia, def. Stephane Huet, France, 6-2, 6-3. Karol Kucera (9), Slovakia, def. Paul Harsanyi, United States, 6-1, 6-0. Andy Roddick, United States, def. Adrian Voinea, Romania, 6-3, 6-4.

Doubles - First Round

Andre Agassi, United States, and Sargis Sargsian, Armenia, def. Peter Nyborg, Sweden, and Cyril Suk (7), Czech Republic, 4-5 (ret).