Originally Published: January 21, 2004

At the Australian Open today

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By Cynthia Faulkner
ESPN.com

Remember at the 2002 Wimbledon when Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras spectacularly fell in the second round?

Sampras never returned to Wimbledon, but Agassi stuck around. Now he has a chance for a little payback at the Australian Open today. For the first time since that "shocking" day, as Agassi put it at the time, he plays Paradorn Srichaphan.

Henin
Henin

Potential show stoppers
  • With all the injuries on the women's side, No. 1 will meet No. 129 on the women's side today. Justine Henin-Hardenne plays Mara Santangelo, a 22-year-old Italian qualifier. This is only Santangelo's second major event after falling in the first round at the U.S. Open last fall. There's not a lot of info out there about Santangelo other than the fact that she went through the qualifiers like Henin-Hardenne has been going through the main draw.

  • Although Lindsay Davenport always has been able to beat Russian Vera Zvonareva, their last match against each other went three sets. Zvonareva is dangerous; she upset Venus Williams at Roland Garros last year. Davenport, who hasn't won a major tournament since the 2000 Aussie Open, is the only former champion in the draw.

  • This is the only major where Amelie Mauresmo has reached the final (1999). Because of injuries last year, she skipped the Australian Open and Wimbledon and finished in the quarterfinals of the other two. She's eased through the draw so far without dropping a set, but this match will be very loud and pro-Aussie Alicia Molik.

    Roddick
    Roddick

  • Andy Roddick played a smart game against Sjeng Schalken when they met in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Roddick has beaten him in straight sets the past two times they've met.

  • American James Blake and Russian Marat Safin will meet for the first time ever today. Both have something to prove. Blake is trying to have his best showing ever at a major, while Safin is trying to prove he can win another Grand Slam title.

  • Sebastien Grosjean and Robby Ginepri have met only once before -- in Los Angeles last year. Grosjean beat him in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. By reaching the fourth round at Melbourne, Ginepri already is having his best major performance ever.

    Cynthia Faulkner is the tennis editor for ESPN.com.

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