Tennis: Top seed Kuerten battles through
Gustavo Kuerten needed three sets, Australian Open champ Andre Agassi just two, but both made it into the third round of the Tennis Masters Series in Miami.
Kuerten lost a second-set tie-breaker but battled to a 6-1 6-7 (3/7) 6-4 victory over Moroccan Hicham Arazi.
Meanwhile, Agassi easily defeated young compatriot Taylor Dent 6-4 6-2.
Number eight seed Patrick Rafter of Australia also cruised through taking only 48 minutes to dispose of Bob Bryan 6-2 6-1.
"I didn't want to spend a long time on court," said Rafter. "It was hot and it was a good thing that I was able to finish quickly.
In the next round he will face Spain's Francisco Clavet, who defeated fellow countryman Alberto Martin in three sets.
Australian Mark Philippoussis, seeded 16, battling for nearly two hours to subdue former French Open champion Michael Chang of the United States 7-6 (7/2) 6-4.
