After Rain, Agassi Has an Early Appointment Today

Saturday’s session of the U.S. Open was lost to rain, and perhaps the only person happy about that was Andre Agassi.

Agassi, who is in his last pro tournament and has survived to the third round after two long, late-night dramatic victories while nursing a sore back, got an additional day’s rest with the postponement. He will now play qualifier Benjamin Becker of Germany at 8 a.m. PDT today.

The downside of this for Agassi is that, if he wins, he will have to return for his fourth-round match, perhaps against Andy Roddick, on Monday. He has taken one cortisone shot already because of the back pain this week and is also taking anti-inflammatory shots.

Other schedule adjustments prompted by the rainout placed Roddick on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court immediately after the Agassi match, followed by Serena Williams’ match. Maria Sharapova’s match was moved to tonight, followed by Carlos Moya against James Blake.

The USTA created an extra night session tonight, on the Louis Armstrong court, that will feature Roger Federer against American Vince Spadea.

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-- Bill Dwyre