Agassi Fluently Through With Energy Saved

If a Spanish or Portuguese speaker does not win the French Open men's title next Sunday it will be a considerable shock but for the time being Andre Agassi, the champion in 1999, is still attempting to stem the in-rushing Iberian and South American tide. Yesterday he reached his third successive quarter-final at Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 victory over the Brazilian Flavio Saretta.

"Against anybody who speaks Spanish it's a good win," said Agassi, quickly adding "and Portuguese" when it dawned on him that Saretta was Brazilian. Judging by the delight on the No2 seed's face this win was a good deal less arduous than he had expected. And the American will need every ounce of his energy from this moment on.

Saretta, 22, had slipped into the last 16 almost unnoticed but could hardly disappear that way, having drawn Agassi on the Philippe Chatrier Court. An injury to what might euphemistically be called his lower back also ensured that rather more of him was seen by certain sections of the crowd than he might have wished. Agassi had few problems and it remains to be seen whether, unlike in the last two years, he can maintain his level of intensity into the second week.

Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands, much like Agassi, was not exactly the model professional in his early days. "I enjoyed my time from 18 till 21 and I've seen everything that a young guy should have seen. Sometimes you need to have fun to be more professional later."

It is an interesting concept and not one likely to be propounded by many of today's coaches who have work ethic written on their hearts and souls. Agassi, though, would surely concur.

Having reached the ripe old age of 24, Verkerk - with a considerable shove from his girlfriend - has begun to take his tennis seriously. He won his first tournament in Milan this year and then surprised everyone in Rome by reaching the quarter-finals of the Italian Open.

"Before that I was pretty lazy about my sport but I think I've now showed everybody, including myself, what I can do," said the Dutchman, who reached the last eight here in Paris with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Germany's Rainer Schüttler, this year's beaten finalist at the Australian Open.

Verkerk may not be a natural on clay but, unlike Tim Henman, he possesses a weapon of mighty weight, namely his serve. He flays down ace after ace and may cause problems at Wimbledon in a few weeks' time, though he played it down.

"Don't expect me to be the next Richard Krajicek [the Wimbledon champion in 1996]. He has more capabilities than I have, and is by far the best player Holland has ever had," Verkerk said.

Order of play (seeds in capitals): Court Philippe Chatrier: F GONZALEZ (Chile, 19) v J NIEMINEN (Fin, 30); A COSTA (Sp, 9) v A CLEMENT (Fr, 32). Court Suzanne Lenglen: J C FERRERO (Sp, 3) v F MANTILLA (Sp, 20); T ROBREDO (Sp, 28) v G KUERTEN (Bra, 15).