Agassi opens defence of title with win over Rusedski

Ninth seed Andre Agassi began the defence of his Nasdaq-100 Open Masters title in impressive fashion on Friday dispatching Britain's Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-1.

Not even three rain delays that dragged the match out over two hours, could distract Agassi, who has won the Miami title four times and appeared in the final on two other occassions.

Having dipped to number 10 in the world with a first round exit last week in Indian Wells, Agassi arrived in Miami in desperate need of a solid result to keep from slipping further down the rankings.

A loss to the 38th ranked Briton would have also ended at streak that stretches back to May 1988, a span of nearly 14 years that has seen either Agassi or Sampras in the world top 10.

After the start of the match was delayed a half hour because of rain, Agassi and Rusedski played two points when the skies opened again forcing them off the court for 40 minutes.

When play resumed both players appeared to have problems finding their rhythm, particularly Rusedski who double-faulted on set point to hand Agassi a 1-0 lead.

With Agassi up a set and leading 2-1 in the second rain again began to fall causing another 45 minute delay.

When the players returned to the court Agassi played as if he were late for a dinner engagement breaking Rusedski twice on way to sweeping the final four games.

Agassi, who has played just two events after missing the first part of the season with a wrist injury sustained just before the start of the Australian Open, will now take on Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui or Argentina's Agustin Calleri in the third round.