AGASSI'S NOT BACKING OUT BEATS LISNARD IN STRAIGHT SETS IN CUP OPENER.

Byline: Matthew Kredell Staff Writer

With seeded players dropping out in droves, Andre Agassi showed Tuesday he is willing and able to carry the Mercedes-Benz Cup on his ailing back.

Playing for the first time in more than two months, Agassi made easy work of France's Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-1, 6-0 in 47 minutes at UCLA.

``Certainly coming out here for my first match in a long time, I couldn't have ever expected or hoped for that standard and to be so comfortable early on,'' Agassi said. ``It was nearly perfect.''

Agassi hadn't played since dropping out of the French Open in May with a sciatic nerve condition that affected his back, hip and right leg.

``It looked like I was the one who was injured, not him,'' said Lisnard, ranked 109th in the world.

``He just plays so fast, creeping inside the baseline, and makes you run.''

Wearing Adidas shoes and clothes on the court for the first time since announcing a deal with the apparel company Monday, Agassi settled in early and jumped out to a two-break lead in the first four games.

``I was expecting nerves, which I did have, but the nerves go away quickly when you get up two breaks immediately,'' Agassi said. ``You expect to be uncomfortable but maybe it's a tribute to what I've been doing the past eight weeks that I covered the court well.''

The Mercedes-Benz Cup desperately needs Agassi after two more seeded players dropped out of the tournament Tuesday with injuries. Third-seeded Nicolas Kiefer retired from his first-round match in the sixth game with a respiratory condition. Fifth-seeded Taylor Dent never made it on the court because he is still recovering from heat exhaustion from Sunday's final in Indianapolis.

Andy Roddick, who was to be the top seed, withdrew from the tournament Friday with an injury and two others - sixth-seeded Mario Ancic and seventh-seeded Sebastian Grosjean - were upset Monday.

Agassi is a three-time winner in Los Angeles and one of the few big names remaining in the event.

Along with Agassi, Tommy Haas is one of three seeded players remaining after beating Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-4. Refreshingly, Haas desperately wanted to play at the Mercedes-Benz Cup.

It didn't look like Haas would be able defend his title when he tore ligaments in his ankle after tripping over an errant ball left on the court at Wimbledon.

Haas recovered quickly and asked his doctor if he could try to play at the Mercedes-Benz Cup without risking further damage to the ankle.

``It was great getting to see my picture up with the greats,'' Haas said of the wall of former winners at UCLA. ``I would have been disappointed if I couldn't make it out to this tournament.''

Haas broke early in the second set against Karlovic and ended the match on an ace.

``Overall, I played pretty well,'' Haas said. ``I still think about the ankle, but it was good to see I didn't have any aches.''

James Blake was the recipient of good fortune when Kiefer dropped out with his injury.

Though he was handed the victory, the struggling Blake was up a break at 3-2 and playing well.

``I had lost a couple in a row so getting a win by any way was comforting,'' Blake said. ``Since I won, I'll get to play a full match next time.''

Blake, who was ranked as high as 22nd in the world in 2003, battled injuries much of last season. He had a fluke accident when he slipped head-first into a net post during practice, fracturing a vertebrae in his neck.

This season, he has been inconsistent, losing in the first round of the past three tournaments he has entered and dropping to 108 in the world.

In other first-round action, Robby Ginepri continued his impressive play after winning the tournament in Indianapolis last week by beating Wayne Arthurs of Australia 6-4, 6-4.

Matthew Kredell, [phone]

matthew.kredell(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Andre Agassi blows a kiss to the crowd after beating Jean-Rene Lisnard at the Mercedes-Benz Cup on Tuesday.

(2) Despite an ailing back hat has caused him to miss the last two months, Andre Agassi won in straight sets on Tuesday night.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer