SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Andre Agassi defeated Luiz Mattar of Brazil, 6-4, 6-3, Sunday to successfully defend his title in the$288, 750 Nuveen tennis championship.
Agassi, who did not drop a set in his five matches, was coming off a 4 1/2-month layoff.
Before undergoing right wrist surgery Dec. 20, Agassi last played for the U.S. Davis Cup team against the Bahamas in October.
Agassi, who pocketed $42,000 for his 20th ATP title, started slowly, dropping his first two serves to fall behind 2-1. He broke back to even it at 4-4 and held serve to go ahead 5-4. Agassi captured the set when Mattar double faulted on set point.
In the second set, Agassi went ahead 5-3 when Mattar hit a shot into the net and closed out the 1-hour, 19-minute match with a forehand winner.
Agassi rolled to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Germany's Kartsen Braasch in the semifinals Saturday. Mattar upset second seed MaliVai Washington of the U.S. 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the semifinals. Mattar was playing in his first tournament final outside his native Brazil.
Mattar, No. 78 in the world, reached his first final since winning at Sao Paulo in 1992. He was the first Brazilian to reach a men's tour final since 1981 when Carlos Kirmayr did it at the Forest Hills Tour of Champions. No Brazilian has ever won an ATP Tour title.
