WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Andre Agassi coasted to a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Israel's Noam Okun Tuesday night to reach the last 16 at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington.
Agassi, a five-time champion in the nation's capital event, is aiming to become only the
sixth player in the Open era (since 1968) to win the same event at least six times.
The Las Vegas native improved his all-time record in D.C. to 36-8, extending his current winning streak to 15 matches after capturing the 1998 and 1999 titles.
"I didn't know too much about Okun, so it takes a little while to get the rhythm going," Agassi said. "I returned really well and he missed quite a few first serves, which gave me a lot of opportunities on his second serve."
The seven-time Grand Slam champion also is preparing to try and win a third U.S. Open title.
"I've had enough matches so far in the hardcourt season," Agassi said. "This tournament is a tournament I choose to prepare (for the U.S. Open) and there is nothing quite like winning to prepare, as I have done in the past here. It gives you a sense of confidence and I want to play as many matches as I can here in Washington, D.C."
Agassi, 32, already has captured the Scottsdale, TMS-Miami, TMS-Rome and Los Angeles tournaments this year. The former world No. 1 is looking to win five titles in a year for the first time since 1999.
Agassi next meets the winner of the second-round matchup between No. 15 Jan Vacek of the Czech Republic and wild card Brian Vahaly of the United States.
Spain's Alex Corretja, the fourth seed and 2000 Washington titlist, Tuesday edged Brazil's Alexandre Simoni, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), to move into the round of 16. He took the tiebreak despite being broken when he served for the match at 5-4 in the third set.
"I need to improve my game," he said. "I made so many mistakes. I need to improve my return of serve. But the main thing is that I am winning and I'm in the tournament for one more day."
Corretja now awaits the winner of the second-round encounter between Slovakia's Karol Kucera and Dutchman Raemon Sluiter.
Earlier Tuesday, the third seed and 2001 runnerup Sjeng Schalken of The Netherlands reached the third round with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 win over Cedric Pioline of France.
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, the ninth seed who made the semifinal of last week's TMS-Cincinnati, beat Georgia's Irakli Labadze, 6-4, 6-3, and Todd Martin, the 10th seed, moved on
with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over Italy's Stefano Galvani.
A trio of American qualifiers moved into the second round.
Kevin Kim owned a 6-1, 5-1 lead over fellow countryman Trevor Spracklin when the wild card was forced to retire because of a sprained right wrist.
Michael Russell breezed past Belgium's Christophe Rochus, 6-2, 6-2, and Justin Gimelstob topped Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen, 6-3,
6-3.
Two other Americans also advanced to the round of 32.
Wild card Bob Bryan pulled away to beat Thai qualifier Danai Udomchoke, 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, and Alex Kim beat Brazil's Flavio Saretta, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Other winners were Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan, Guillermo Coria of Argentina, Lars Burgsmuller of Germany, and qualifier Frank Dancevic of Canada.
The Legg Mason winner receives $111,600.
