Agassi stunned by qualifier in Atlanta

Andre Agassi's run of 11 straight wins came to a surprise end when he was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by qualifier Nicolas Thomann of France in the first round of the Atlanta Challenge on Wednesday.

Agassi, coming off title triumphs in the Tennis Masters Series events at Indian Wells and Miami, was outplayed in his first match of the year on clay by an opponent who was gaining his maiden win at ATP level in 2001.

Two other seeds fell in second round action.

Hyung-Taik Lee of South Korea beat third-seeded American Michael Chang 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in a night match. Earlier, Xavier Malisse of Belgium crushed fourth seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-1, 6-1.

Top seed Agassi, broken in the first game after opening up with three double faults, failed to threaten Thomann's serve in the first set.

But Thomann, who has only played Challenger tournaments so far this year, had to survive two set points while serving at 6-4, 4-5 in the second.

GOT IT DONE

"The first set point he hits a 124 (mph) ace outside on the line, and on the other he hits an incredible forehand drop shot that died," Agassi said. "He got it done when he needed to."

Thomann made it 5-5 with a drop-shot winner before breaking Agassi in the following game and then serving out the match.

Agassi has a 67-5 career record against qualifiers and had not lost to one since fellow countryman Cecil Mamiit beat him in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1999.

He had also not lost to a player outside the world's top 100 since Jiri Vanek beat him here last year. In that match, Agassi retired with a hamstring injury after the first set.

Thomann, who is not registered on the ATP Champions Race, is the lowest-ranked player to beat Agassi since 16-year-old Lleyton Hewitt beat him in Adelaide, Australia in 1998. Hewitt was No. 550 at the time.

Thomann, 28, born in Mulhouse, is 1-5 in Challenger events this year and had failed to qualify for the ATP tournaments at Key Biscayne, Milan and Miami.

In Miami, the Frenchman began working again with Tarik Benhabiles, who also coaches American Andy Roddick.

"It's fabulous," said Thomann who has never been in the world's top 100. "It was a dream to play against a player so great.

"The first point, I entered the court to win the match, even if it was Agassi. You don't know what happens."

Agassi had not played in three weeks, since winning in Miami, and seemed out of sorts.

"He was beating me forehand to forehand and he stretched the point," Agassi said.

"I like to play a match where the longer the point goes, the more I start taking control of it. You have to be moving well to do that. I was sliding a little bit after I hit the ball."

After losing an opening-round match in a clay-court event for the first time since 1994, Agassi brushed off suggestions he could win the Grand Slam this year.

"The Grand Slam is nonsense," said the Australian Open champion. "I've got to start executing my game and I've got to find a way to get through these matches."

CHANG STRUGGLES

Chang, off to the worst start to a season of his career, saw his 2001 match record fall to 3-8 as Lee picked up his first victory outside Davis Cup play.

"This year's been a struggle, period," Chang said. "I'm not sure what to make of it. I just don't think I've had enough matches, and the confidence is not where it should be.

"That's what I feel is making the difference now between some of these matches where I have opportunities to win and I'm not able to close them out."