Tennis Roundup : With Help From Wheaton, Agassi Leaves Early Again

Andre Agassi’s streak of early departures from tournaments continued Thursday when he was beaten by first-year pro David Wheaton, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, in the third round of the $602,500 Volvo International at Stratton Mountain, Vt.

Wheaton, 20, the former Stanford star who is ranked 122nd, won the biggest match of his tennis career and advanced to the quarterfinals.

“It’s just awesome that I beat a top-10 player. I’m just sorry it had to be Andre because we’re close friends,” said Wheaton, who used to practice with Agassi when they were younger.

Second-seeded Michael Chang reached the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Derrick Rostagno. Third-seeded Brad Gilbert also moved ahead with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory over Wally Masur.

Agassi’s loss continued a skid that began shortly after he took this tournament last year. The title was one of six he won in a year that saw his ranking improve from No. 25 to No. 3. But this year, he has lost in all 12 of the singles tournaments he has entered.

Agassi, 19, seeded No. 1, said Wheaton simply played better when it counted. Through the second set and especially in the third, Wheaton matched Agassi shot for shot.

“It wasn’t luck. He played better. It’s as simple as that,” Agassi said.

Bruno Oresar of Yugoslavia rallied from a set down to upset No. 4 seeded Jonas Svensson of Sweden, 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, as seeded players continued to lose in the $305,000 Swedish Open at Bastad, Sweden.

Swedish junior star Nicklas Kulti joined Oresar in the quarterfinals, eliminating defending champion Marcelo Filippini of Uruguay, 6-4, 6-2. Kulti, 18, the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior champion this year, was ranked 181st entering the clay-court event.

Third-seeded Emilio Sanchez beat fellow Spaniard Juan Aguilera, 6-4, 6-2, to move into the quarterfinals of a $350,000 tournament at Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Seventh-seeded Martin Jaite of Argentina advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Petr Korda of Czechoslovakia, and Goran Prpic of Yugoslavia eliminated fourth-seeded Guillermo Perez-Roldan of Argentina, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.