Updated: January 20, 2004, 3:10 AM ET

At the Australian Open today

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By Cynthia Faulkner
ESPN.com

Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick play back-to-back on Rod Laver Arena against opponents from the Czech Republic on Wednesday afternoon in Melbourne.

Agassi faces for the first time the 6-foot-4 18-year-old Tomas Berdych. Roddick plays Bohdan Ulihrach, against whom he has a 3-0 edge.

For the women, nine of the 16 matches will be played by opponents who have never met before.

Ginepri
Ginepri

Potential show stoppers
  • American Robby Ginepri, seeded No. 32, plays Aussie wild card Chris Guccione in the night match on Rod Laver Arena. Guccione recently drew attention to himself by upsetting No. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero in a warm-up tournament. Another 18-year-old, Guccione's ranking is so low, he's not even in the back of the ATP's new media guide. At 6-7, Guccione has an advantage over 6-foot Ginepri, who, in case you were wondering, is no longer dating actress Minnie Driver, according to his agent.

  • The only former champion in the women's draw, Lindsay Davenport takes on Emilie Loit of France in the second round. No. 5 seed Davenport, who has a 42-9 record at Melbourne, won their only previous meeting on hard court at the U.S. Open in 2001.

    Gambill
    Gambill

  • American Jan-Michael Gambill faces a difficult second round against No. 9 seed Sebastien Grosjean. A scrappy player who runs down balls his opponents think are sure winners, Grosjean reached the semifinals here in 2001. Although he plays best on hard courts, Gambill has never been past the second round of the Australian Open.

  • Robin Soldering, the young Swede who Monday ousted last year's runner-up Rainer Schuettler, takes on wild card Nicholas Escude.

    Off the show courts

  • After going the distance in his opening match, Todd Martin takes on a big job in the second round. Ivo Karlovic, 6-foot-10, 215 pounds, drew national attention by sending Lleyton Hewitt packing in the first round of Wimbledon. Last season, Karlovic led the ATP with 17.6 aces per match.

  • Doubles play begins today. Martina Navratilova has teamed up with fellow American Lisa Raymond, and they take on Seiko Okamoto and Ryoko Takemura of Japan.

    Cynthia Faulkner is the tennis editor for ESPN.com.

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