Phau shows the door to Agassi

Dubai: German Bjorn Phau rode on a popular wave to snuff out Andre Agassi 7-5, 7-5 from the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open on centre court late last night.

Phau, winner in the first round against lucky loser Giorgio Galimberti in three sets, strode into the hearts of the jam-packed centre court with a sensational display against the experienced American.

"I don't have any excuses to make. I needed to settle down, but he never gave me the chance to do so. He defended well and then when I tried to pass him, he took his chances," Agassi said after his shocking loss.

The first set was a fluctuating affair with both players unwilling to give away anything to the other. It was Agassi who made the first move breaking Phau for a 3-2. However, Agassi could not sustain the incisiveness, speed and poise of the German as Phau broke back for 3-3.

Both players had exchange of service breaks before Phau made it 6-5 with a sweeping forehand down the line to break the American. He then held serve to clinch the set 7-5 in 35 minutes. "After I had won the first set, I believed even more that I could win," Phau said.

"I respect Agassi as a great legend, but on court he was just an opponent," Phau said while adding that playing against other greats such as Carlos Moya (Chennai Open) and Andy Roddick (San Jose) has prepared him for facing such top players.

"If my serve was the best part of my game tonight, I think what helped me even more was my speed on court," added the German.

Playing in the main draw for the first time in Dubai, Phau who has a mixed parentage of an Indonesian father and German mother found instant rapport with the crowd here as they cheered him on.

Ranked a distant No 80 in the world, Phau rose to the occasion as he combined aggression with caution to break Agassi in the seventh game for a 4-3 lead.

But the American veteran was in no hurry to give in as he broke back for 4-4. Both players managed to hold serve once apiece till Phau managed one more break to nose ahead 6-5.

On his own serve, Phau had a tough time keeping the nagging Agassi at bay. However the German managed one more act of sheer brilliance as he hit a return winner from the rib cage to keep Agassi stranded in one spot to claim the set and match 7-5.

"I am disappointed not to get matches even though I am feeling well physically," Agassi said. "The court conditions were quick and I felt like I was playing tennis with golf balls."

Results
(Singles) Olivier Rochus bt Marat Safin 7-6 (5), 6-4; Roger Federer bt Mohammad Al Gareeb 7-6 (5), 6-4; Mikhail Youzhny bt Igor Andreev 6-1, 7-6 (4); Rainer Schuettler bt Ivo Klec 7-5, 6-4; Robin Vik bt Tomas Berdych 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2; Bjorn Phau bt Andre Agassi 7-5, 7-5.

Order of Play (Thursday):
Quaterfinals:
Centre Court: (Singles) (start 2 pm) Olivier Rochus vs Mikhail Youzhny; Rafael Nadal vs Radek Stepanek OR Tim Henman; (7 pm) Roger Federer vs Robin Vik; Rainer Schuettler vs Bjorn Phau.

(Doubles) Court 1 (start at 5 pm): Christophe Rochus/Olivier Rochus vs Martin Damm/Leander Paes; Fabrice Santoro/Nenad Zimonjic vs Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek.