Sweden's Thomas Enqvist overcame second seed Andre Agassi 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Scottsdale Classic on Monday, handing the American his first loss of the year.
"It's a big one for me to beat Andre who started the year as he always does, winning the Australian," said Enqvist, who had managed a single victory in seven matches this year entering the tournament.
"I've been struggling with injuries and I've been trying to come back to the level I think I should play. It shows me that I can still play very good tennis."
The former world number four was devastating from inside the baseline and served big, ringing up 18 aces and facing only three break points against one of the world's most proficient returners.
"I though I played really well," said Enqvist, who registered his best win since upsetting Pete Sampras at Indian Wells three years ago.
"I could play at a high speed without making too many mistakes."
Agassi had come into the match with a 12-0 record in 2003, winning his eighth grand slam title at the Australian Open and taking his fourth title in San Jose two weeks ago.
But like he did in 1995 when he stopped Agassi's 15-match winning streak in Philadelphia, the Swede was the superior player on the day, rarely allowing Agassi to control the centre of the court and tearing apart second serves.
"It reminds me how much I dislike losing," said Agassi, a four-time champion here.
"I don't enjoy it. A first round match is always the most vulnerable one."
Enqvist fell behind 6-0 in the first set tiebreaker, but raced back to 6-6 before he double faulted and Agassi crushed a backhand down the line winner to take the set.
GOOD CHANCE
"Obviously you are very angry at yourself double faulting at 6-6, but every time you step on court with Andre it's an honour and so much fun," Enqvist said.
"Even after that, I felt I had still had a good chance against him."
Enqvist charged ahead in the second set, breaking Agassi in the opening game and then breaking him again to 4-1. The 28-year-old closed out the set with a booming service winner.
Enqvist broke Agassi to open the third set with an outright return of serve forehand winner and then broke again to surge to a 4-1 lead with a huge forehand down the line.
The Swede broke Agassi to win the contest with another forehand down the line winner.
"Thomas is great player who hits the ball big, goes through good patches on his serves and returns and if he puts it together, he's pretty tough to beat," Agassi said.
"He got the early break in each set and when he's feeling the momentum he's starting hitting bigger and close to the lines. He stepped up and I didn't raise my game to answer that."
Enqvist, who has beaten Agassi five times in nine meetings, said that he loved the pace the American gave him.
"I've played him a few times and he's killed me, but I like it when the ball comes fast at me and Andre hits extremely hard," he said.
"I've also played against him when I've been in good shape and been a little lucky sometimes winning close matches."
American players did fare better in other matches, however, as Cecil Mamiit upset eighth seeded Xavier Malisse of Belgium 7-6, 7-6 and Taylor Dent beat Andrei Pavel of Romania 6-3, 7-5.
World number one and top seed Lleyton Hewitt will begin his quest for the title on Tuesday against Spain's Fernando Vicente.
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