Tennis: Agassi stunned by Clavet

Andre Agassi joined Pete Sampras as early casualties in the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic in Arizona.

Hours after the top-seeded Sampras fell to Andrew Ilie 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, Spain's Francisco Clavet stunned three-time champion Agassi 6-1, 6-7 (2), 7-5.

It was the first time since Key Biscayne in 1989 that both Sampras and Agassi lost in the first round of the same tournament.

Agassi said after his defeat to Clavet: "It was a tense one. It's just unfortunate to lose those.

"All you can do is give it your best and hope it falls your way at the end, but it wasn't happening for me today."

Clavet said after his second successive victory over Agassi at Scottsdale: "I think I played really well.

"I served very good the first serves. And I think after that he tried to play really fast."

Earlier, Illie recorded the biggest win of his career when he upset Sampras.

He said: "I've been looking forward to playing Pete for years and years.

"I finally got the chance, and I'm happy that I took advantage of it."

Fourth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt, the defending champion, earlier beat David Sanchez 6-1, 6-3 and number seven seed Marcelo Rios beat Adrian Voinea 7-6 (4), 6-2.