Easy win for Agassi

Andre Agassi’s march towards a fifth Australian Open title continued unabated with a quick-fire straight sets victory over Czech Tomas Berdych.

The defending champion stunned Berdych, an 18-year-old of growing potential, 6-0 6-2 6-4 in just one hour 22 minutes, stretching his unbeaten run at Melbourne Park to 23 matches.

Agassi started like a bullet from a gun, racing to take the first set 6-0 before Berdych, who enjoyed great success on the Challenger Tour, could find his feet.

From there, victory for the 33-year-old American was virtually a formality as he made just 10 unforced errors.

“I thought that was a high standard match,” said Agassi.

“Sometimes the scoreline is not reflective of the work that has going into a match. That was a match where we were both striking the ball very cleanly. I was coming up with the right shots at the right time.”

Agassi spoke positively of Berdych’s potential.

“I like his game a lot. He is going to be a real good player. He is a big guy, moves pretty well for his size, has a big serve that is only going to get better. He’s not scared to take chances.

“When he came in he looked like he knew what he was doing at the net. He has a lot to look forward to.”

Dutch 16th seed Sjeng Schalken progressed in four sets past Spaniard David Ferrer, winning 6-3 6-2 5-7 6-1 to book a third round clash with Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

Gustavo Kuerten, three times a French Open champion, had never progressed further than the second round on Melbourne Park’s Rebound Ace surface. Never, that is, before today.

The Brazilian beat Ivan Ljubicic in four sets, 7-5 6-7 (5/7) 6-4 6-3, to reach unchartered territory at the Australian Open.