Hewitt sends message to Agassi with early win in Masters Cup

Karl Malakunas, Agence France-Presse, Shanghai, China

Lleyton Hewitt sent a strong message to rival Andre Agassi in their duel for the world's number one ranking here Tuesday, defeating Spaniard Albert Costa in three sets in the first round of the season-ending Masters Cup.

The Australian baseliner can secure the year-ending number one ranking for a second straight year with a good performance at the eight-man round robin tournament, and he got off to a solid, if not entirely convincing, start with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win over Costa.

Hewitt's trademark aggression and consistency from the baseline eventually overwhelmed the French Open champion, who has been horribly out of form recently but showed glimpses here of the touch that carried him to victory in Paris.

Hewitt took the first set 6-2 on the slow, indoor hardcourt surface at Shanghai's New International Expo Center, but lost the second after losing his first service game, breaking back at 2-4, and then double-faulting on set point at 5-6.

But any thoughts that Hewitt might not have been tuned in for the third set were quickly erased with a trademark fist-pump after putting away a smash to break Costa's serve in the first game.

The Wimbledon champion broke Costa again at 5-3 to secure the win, which was a much-needed start in his bid to outlast Agassi in the race to finish the year as the world's top player.

In the first match of the tournament earlier Tuesday, Moya rode his heavy forehand to an upset 6-4, 7-5 win over a weary Safin.

Moya's victory gained revenge for a loss to Safin in the semifinals of the Masters event in Paris earlier this month, with his top-spin forehand and return of serve the difference between the players.

Moya came into the match with a 1-2 career record against Safin and the big Russian looked to be in good form early, hitting five aces in his first two service games,

But Moya patiently waited for Safin's game to cool down and then gained control of the match with cleverly crafted points from the baseline.