Wimbledon: Agassi and Rafter begin chase for crown

Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter were today beginning their bid to dethrone Pete Sampras at Wimbledon.

Rafter came out on top in a thrilling five-set semi-final clash with Agassi last year only to lose to Sampras in the final.

He admitted later he had "choked" after taking the first set and leading 4-1 in a second set tie-break.

The Australian third seed is determined to make amends this year and should have few problems in getting past his first-round opponent, Czech Daniel Vacek.

Agassi faces a potentially tougher encounter against Peter Wessels.

The tall Dutchman reached the quarter-finals of the Stella Artois Championships at Queen's Club 10 days ago, beating Britain's Martin Lee, Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson and US Open champion Marat Safin along the way.

Agassi, the second seed, has not played since losing in the quarter-finals of the French Open to Sebastien Grosjean and will have to be at his best to avoid a shock exit.

Agassi follows defending women's champion Venus Williams on Centre Court with Rafter next up, while fifth seed Lleyton Hewitt also begins his campaign against Sweden's Magnus Gustafsson.

Last year's surprise semi-finalist Vladimir Voltchkov faces rising Russian star Mikhail Youzhny on court three while Yevgeny Kafelnikov takes on Yong-Il Koon of Korea.