Agassi thrashes Schuettler

Andre Agassi [Images] swept into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday, thrashing German Rainer Schuettler 6-3, 6-1, 6-0.

The seasoned American, who at 34 is the oldest man in the singles draw, raced to victory in less than an hour and a half in a replay of his straight sets win over Schuettler in the 2003 Australian Open final.

Despite playing on a blustery centre court, Agassi showed off his full repertoire of skills and played just one poor shot in the entire third set, which he wrapped up in 18 minutes.

"I felt like I was playing good tennis...and that's a great feeling," Agassi said.

Agassi, already a four-times champion at Melbourne Park, said he had almost completely recovered from the hip injury he picked up in a warm-up event last week and was feeling good about his prospects.

"I felt as the match went on I was getting more comfortable with my movement, and that's a good thing," he said.

"To say it was 100 percent would probably be overstating it but to be able to have the time to get it better up to this point is a great sign that it will be 100 per cent."

Agassi plays Taylor Dent in the next round after the big-serving American beat Czech Michal Tabara in straight sets but is already casting an eye towards a possible quarter-final showdown with Roger Federer [Images].

The Swiss world number one is a hot favourite to retain his Australian Open title but Agassi said he would still have to be on his game.

"It would be nice to play against him because that means a couple more matches I would have won," Agassi said.

"All these guys are real talented and if you don't show up and aren't at your best then anybody can beat you -- and that includes Roger.

"Roger has to show up and be at his best. When he is, he's proven it's better than everybody else so you have to play a great match against him.

"Like any great player, you can't point to a weakness, but you can point to maybe one side that's not as strong as his other side, which is not very optimistic for his opponents.

"But you have to go after him, you have to take your chances, and you have to play a great match."

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