Andre Agassi began his 2002 clay court campaign this morning by defeating Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the first round of the 400,000 dollar ATP US Men's Clay Court Championships.
The second-seeded American has won five career tournaments on clay, the last coming at the French Open in 1999, when he completed a career Grand Slam.
In other first-round matches, seventh-seed Todd Martin of the US blitzed Ignacio Hirigoyen of Argentina 6-0, 6-4 and Russia's Nikolay Davydenko cruised to victory over Lars Burgsmuller of Germany 6-1, 6-2.
Agassi is playing in Houston for the first time since 1986 when as a 16-year-old he lost in the second round.
However, he claimed this event in 1988 when it was held in Charleston, South Carolina.
Agassi missed the first month of the season with a right wrist injury, but returned to reach the final in San Jose in March. - AFP