Federer, Agassi Lead Popular Winners on Key Biscayne

World No. 1 Roger Federer extended his match win streak to 17 and his 2005 record to 27-1 Saturday with an opening-round win over diminutive Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-1 to move into the third round at the ATP Masters Series-Miami.

"I'm happy I got used to the humidity because it is very different to Indian Wells," said Federer, who will next face Mariano Zabaleta. "It's always hard, you know, to start a tournament."

No. 9 seed Andre Agassi overcame a swollen toe that forced him to pull out of Indian Wells for an opening-round win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.

"I felt it a little bit, but it was a couple times early it was slightly hesitant. But when I pushed through, it never got worse. I felt like I could really push through it, so that was reassuring," said Agassi, who won 7-5, 6-4 over an opponent who has given him difficulty in the past. "You know, it was a tough match, tough first-round match. He plays real talented tennis."

There were four upsets on the day provided by American qualifier Jeff Morrison (d. (10) J.Johansson, dropping 15 aces on the Swede), Argentina's Zabaleta (d. (30) Srichaphan), French qualifier Arnaud Clement (d. (19) Lopez), and German Florian Mayer (d. countryman (22) Kiefer).

"One of my biggest wins, I would say," said Morrison after defeating Johansson, who is on the mend from a shoulder injury. "You know, I've struggled this year up to this point. I don't think I'd won a match coming into this tournament, but had served for the match a few times and been up in some matches that I lost coming into this event against good players. Just couldn't quite get over the hump."

No. 15 seed Fernando Gonzalez received a walkover when hard-luck Aussie Mark Philippoussis withdrew with a left ankle sprain suffered in his first-round win Thursday against Christophe Rochus.

Other seeded winners Saturday were (4) Guillermo Coria (d. (Q) Sanguinetti), (6) Tim Henman (d. (LL) Minar), (7) Gason Gaudio (d. (Q) Phau), (16) Tommy Haas (d. Fish), (18) Mario Ancic (d. Mello), (23) Radek Stepanek (d. Benneteau, bagel in the second), (27) Sebastien Grosjean (d. (Q) N.Lapentti), (28) Juan Ignacio Chela (d. (Q) Lisnard from a set down), and (31) Taylor Dent (d. Hanescu, who retired in the third set with injury).

Dent, usually the one bowing out of events with injury/illness rather than his opponents, is attempting to work his way back into Miami after coming off a viral infection.

"I just started practicing a couple of days ago," Dent said. "Then it wasn't much. I was just out there trying to get my eye back in, hitting up and down the court. I played a practice set two days ago against (Mario) Ancic, and I was dying. I was so tired out there, just walking around. Practice has definitely suffered from my sickness a couple weeks ago."

On court Sunday in Miami are (13) Ljubicic vs. (21) Spadea, (26) Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty vs. (3) Safin (career head-to-head tied 6-6), (5) Moya vs. (25) T.Johansson, Andreev vs. the unseeded former No. 1 Ferrero, (8) Nalbandian vs. Ferrer, in doubles Clement/Llodra vs. (4) Bryan/Bryan, (WC) Gael "Force" Monfils vs. H.-T. Lee, (29) Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco in an all-Spanish, and in doubles Justin "Time" Gimelstob/"Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. Aussies (6) Arthurs/Hanley.