Agassi shines at sweltering Kooyong

Andre Agassi got the Australian Open warm-up he was craving on Thursday, beating Thomas Enqvist 6-2 6-7 6-3 in sweltering conditions at the Kooyong Classic.

"That's why we come and play here, for a match like that," he said after the gruelling workout.

"That had all the elements you like for your preparation. It had some great tennis and some pressure situations.

"Today was a great step forward."

Agassi, looking to defend his title at Melbourne Park when the first grand slam of the season starts next week, raced effortlessly around the court as spectators wilted in the sun.

"I could take it a bit hotter than that," he grinned afterwards, "but I was using a lot of sunscreen that's for sure."

Agassi ripped through the opening set with his customary power and returning giving Enqvist little chance.

But in the second set the Swede, an Australian Open runner-up in 1999, began serving better, matching power with power from the back of the court.

But as soon as Enqvist levelled the match, Agassi accelerated again to clinch the win.

GOOD OMEN

"I just kept executing my shots even though I got a little frustrated out there for not closing out the second set."

Agassi's win puts him in Saturday's final where he could play Pete Sampras if his compatriot beats Scott Draper.

Agassi's progress is a good omen. He has won the title here for the past two years and has gone on to win the Australian Open.

"Everything is going great," he said. "For me, the more I play the better."

In other action at the invitational eight-man event, huge-serving American Taylor Dent nudged aside Germany's Tommy Haas in two tiebreak sets.

But Haas, seeded seventh at the Open, has not won a match at this event yet, having lost to Enqvist on Wednesday, but was not too concerned.

"I just need to try and find my game here slowly but surely and hope to play my good first round match at the Open.

"I think here is very good preparation, it gives you good matches to try and compete out there and play well in front of a great crowd."

Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov atoned for Wednesday's lacklustre loss to Scott Draper when he found form to breeze past Spain's Alex Corretja.

The 1999 Open champion ran through Corretja 6-4 6-2.