QUERREY HOPES TO BE THE AMERICAN DREAM FORMER T.O. STAR WANTS TO EMULATE AGASSI.

Byline: MATTHEW KREDELL Staff Writer

One day, Sam Querrey might take the place of Andre Agassi as the heart of American tennis.

On Tuesday, he got a preview of the Agassi treatment.

Fans packed the grandstand at UCLA -- many of them shirtless former Thousand Oaks High classmates -- to cheer Querrey on to a 7-5, 6-4 first-round victory over Vincent Spadea at the Countrywide Classic.

Querrey estimated that he personally knew about 500 people in the stands. The proclamation drew laughter, but he wasn't kidding. Crowds so one-sided usually are reserved for Agassi, the beloved elder statesman of the sport.

``I don't think there was a seat left in there,'' Querrey said. ``It was packed, so I was really excited.''

Maybe a little too excited, at least initially. Querrey lost the first eight points, admitting later that playing in front of a big hometown crowd for the first time since turning professional last month made him nervous.

He recovered nicely, thriving off the supportive fans who roared with each of his powerful serves and fierce forehands.

Querrey came back from a break down to win the first set. The second set was on serve at 5-4 when Querrey got a break point, made a strong service return and watched a Spadea forehand sail long.

The victory shows how far the 18-year-old has come this year. Back in February, Querrey lost to Spadea at San Jose in his first ATP match.

``I think I've improved a lot in the last five months,'' Querrey said. ``I'm winning more and building confidence.''

Back then, Querrey was still planning on making USC his next stop. In April, he served as a practice partner for the second round of the Davis Cup in Rancho Mirage. Hitting with the likes of Andy Roddick and James Blake, he began gaining confidence that he could compete with top players.

As his high school graduation approached, he thought more and more about giving the professional tour a try.

He quickly proved he was ready, winning two of his first three tournaments at the minor-league challenger level. He's won first-round matches at all three of his ATP events since turning pro, though he has yet to get past the second round.

``I've got to get a second-round win now,'' said Querrey, who faces eighth-seeded Dmitry Tursunov of Russia on Thursday. ``That's my big goal now, to win two rounds in an ATP event.''

He already reached his first goal, getting into the top 200 in the rankings -- he entered the week at 191. He's now shooting for the top 100 by the end of the year.

With his 6-foot-6 size, a serve that has reached 140 miles per hour and a big forehand, Querrey is one of the young American players counted on to someday boost the country's sagging reputation in the sport. Someday soon.

``It's fun being part of the new wave of players coming up,'' Querrey said. ``... I like having articles written about me and for people to know who I am. I don't really feel any pressure about it. I enjoy it, all the talk about it.''

With Agassi's pending retirement and the group that was supposed to replace him -- players like Andy Roddick, Taylor Dent and Mardy Fish -- having regressed, American tennis desperately needs a young and exciting face.

At Wimbledon earlier this month, no American made it past the third round.

Querrey isn't ready to change that yet, but he has the raw tools to make it possible.

``He obviously has a lot to work on, but at the same time he's a young player beating and competing at a high level,'' said Spadea, a 13-year veteran who peaked at No. 18 in the world in 2005.

``...He has a big serve and baseline game. He's got to get faster, and possibly try to come in (to the net) every once in a while.''

Querrey, who has admired Agassi since he first picked up a racket at age 4, had the opportunity to practice with the tennis legend two months ago in San Diego for a few days.

``It's sad to see him go, but hopefully he can make a nice run here in the summer and at the U.S. Open,'' Querrey said. ``And maybe, one day, I'll kind of take his spot.''

[e-mail]

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Thousand Oaks' Sam Querrey entered the ATP rankings this week at No. 191.

(2) Friends of Sam Querrey spell out ``Sam's Club'' on their chests before his first-round match.

Michael Owen Baker/L.A. Daily News