Open title, overcame a rocky start yesterday to beat Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2 in the first round of the Colonial Classic.

For Australian Open betting favourite Pete Sampras, US Open champion Marat Safin and Bermuda resident Patrick Rafter, it was a rocky finish.

Bothered by a sore elbow, Safin withdrew from the eight-man tournament hours after losing 6-2, 6-1 to France's Nicolas Escude.

Tournament director Colin Stubs had no details on the extent of the injury or whether Safin still planned to play in the Australian Open, starting next Monday.

Spanish Davis Cup hero Juan Carlos Ferrero defeated Sampras 6-2, 6-4, and Olympic gold medallist Yevgeny Kafelnikov beat Rafter 6-2, 6-2.

The losers stay in the tournament, playing for lower places. Safin was replaced by Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti, who ended last year ranked 24th.

"It was a really ugly day at tennis,'' Agassi said of the 35-degree Celsius (95 F) heat and wind. "I feel good. It was a tough day to judge yourself too harshly.'' With the Australian Open starting next Monday, Agassi said the day's tennis "gave me a good look at what I'll be in for the next couple of weeks, and that feels good''.

After losing the first three games, Agassi gradually began controlling the play.

Under the conditions, he said: "It wasn't going to be about hitting perfect shots or making fewer errors, it was going to be about doing your best to move your feet and stay disciplined and mentally get yourself to where you want to be for the Open.'' Sampras, who holds a record 13 Grand Slam tournament titles, also mentioned the typical Australian summer conditions and said Ferrero "handled them a little bit better than I did.'' The 29-year-old took off most of last Autumn from competition to help rest and prepare for the Australian Open.

"Sometimes it takes me a match or two to get my form, and that's why this week is a perfect preparation,'' he said.

Ferrero said he gained confidence for the Open.

"I beat Pete Sampras the first time I played him, and I enjoyed it so much,'' he added.

Kafelnikov, the 1999 Open winner and 2000 runner-up to Agassi, said he had come prepared, liked the hard court surface used for this tournament and the Open, and said: "I don't know why I shouldn't be one of the contenders to win the title again.'' Patrick Rafter: well beaten