Tennis: Agassi and Sampras are first-day winners

Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras were first-day winners, while Yevgeny Kafelnikov was upset by Scott Draper at the Kooyong Classic exhibition tennis tournament in Melbourne.

Sampras, coming off a first-round loss to Todd Martin in last week's Adelaide hard-court championships, beat Alex Corretja of Spain 6-4 7-6 in round-robin play while Agassi defeated Taylor Dent 6-3 6-2.

Draper, whose ranking has dropped after being off the main circuit for 18 months following the death of his wife, beat Kafelnikov 6-3 6-4.

Elsewhere, Thomas Enqvist of Sweden beat Tommy Haas 7-5 4-6 6-3.

Agassi's win was routine but he enjoyed the match practice.

"I usually come here pretty much ready to go, but you can't beat playing a couple of tough matches in the heat," he said.

After his win over Corretja, Sampras said he feels the art of serve-and-volley tennis is disappearing from the game.

"There is no cure," Sampras said. "It's just the nature of where the sport is going. Guys are just serving big and cracking the ball big from the back court. There are not too many serve and volleyers."

He said tennis will be poorer with only one style of play.

"It's unfortunate for the future of the sport. I think the best tennis is seeing two contrasting styles - you don't really see that that often."

A year ago, Draper was considering whether to give up tennis, but decided to visit best friend Jason Stoltenberg and train for a comeback.

"There were a lot of ups and downs and roller coaster rides and a lot of tough times, but I am at the other side of it and I'm all the better for it," Draper said.

Stoltenberg is now coaching world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

Kafelnikov was impressed with Draper's win.

"If he can put up that kind of performance through the competitive matches like in the big tournaments like the Australian Open, I'm sure he is going to be very difficult to beat," said Kafelnikov.