The world No 4 from Australia struggled for two hours and five minutes yesterday before finally overcoming 105-ranked Anthony Dupuis (France) in their first meeting.

Rafter took a lengthy post-match treatment on his right shoulder, which has been bothering him due to tendinitis for weeks.

Other Results (2nd Round): 6-Marcelo Rios (Braz) bt Haral Levy (Isr) 6-2 7-6 (7-5); Jan Siemerink (Neth) bt 7-Tommy Haas (Ger) 6-2 7-6 (7-5); Jared Palmer (US) bt 11-Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) 6-2 6-2; Daniel Nestor (Can) bt David Prinosil (Ger) 6-3 6-1; Cedric Pioline (Fra) bt Alberto Martin (Spa) 6-0 6-3; Magnus Larsson (Swed) bt Thomas Enqvist (Swed) 7-6 (8-6) 6-4; Sebastien Grosjean (Fra) bt Albert Costa (Spa) 6-7 (0-7) 6-2 7-5.

Easy for Agassi

WASHINGTON: Andre Agassi puthimself on track to earn his fifth Legg Mason Classic title. Agassi, the No 2 seed, disposed off Swede Mikael Tillstrom 6-1 6-1 in 50 minutes yesterday.

Other Results: 3-Tim Henman (Eng) bt Peter Wessels (Ned) 7-6 (7-2) 7-5; 5-Alex Corretja (Spa) bt Gianlucci Pozzi (Ita) 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 7-5; 9-Fabrice Santoro (Fra) bt Ronald Agenor (Hai) 6-4 6-4; Tomas Zib (Cze) bt 10-Rainer Schuttler (Ger) 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 3-0 (retired); Ramon Delgado (Par) bt 13-Michael Chang (US) 6-4 1-6 6-3.

Serena injured

TORONTO: Serena Williams, seeded eighth in the $1.05 million Du Maurier Open, injured her right shoulder in practice last morning and defaulted her 2nd round match against unseeded Silvija Tajala of Croatia.

Williams suffered a rotator muscle strain that will keep her out of next week's tournament at New Haven. Williams' spot in the draw went to 80th-ranked Amelie Cocheteux of France, a qualifying-round loser. She was beaten 6-4 6-1 by Tajala.

Other Results (2nd Round): Ai Sugiyama (Jap) bt4-Jana Novotna (Cze) 5-7 6-2 6-1; 5-Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (Spa) bt Karina Habsudova (Slo) 7-5 6-2; Jennifer Capriati (US) bt 7-Nathalie Tauziat (Fra) 1-6 6-4 6-2; 9-Barbara Schett (Austria) bt Renata Kolbovic (Can) 6-3 6-1; 10-Sandrine Testud (Fra) bt Magui Serna (Spa) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3; 12-Conchita Martinez (Spa) bt Jelena Dokic (Aust) 5-7 6-1 6-4

Wild card for Malivai

WHITE PLAINS: Former Wimbledon finalist Malivai Washington is among 16 players who received wild-card entries into the US Open, which begins on August 30. The 30-year-old American lost in the 1996 Wimbledon final to Dutchman Richard Krajicek, and has since been sidelined with an injury. Washington's brother, Mashiska, and sister, Mashona, also received wild card entries.

Wild Cards (Men): James Blake, Bob Bryan, Taylor Dent, Kevin Kim, Phillip King, Jeff Morrison, Malivai Washington, Mashiska; (Women): Erika De Lone, Laura Ganville, Jennifer Hopkins, Zuzana Lesenarova, Melissa Middleton, Meilen Tu, Samantha Reeves,Mashona.

Philippoussis back

BRISBANE: Mark Philippoussis was recalled today to the Australian Davis Cup tennis squad for next month's semifinal against Russia in Brisbane.

Philippoussis missed last month's quarter-final victory over the US due to an ankle injury. But with World No 4 Patrick Rafter battling a shoulder problem and Lleyton Hewitt still recovering from an ankle strain, Australian captain John Newcombe said he needs a squad that can withstand last-minute changes.

Meanwhile, Australian coach Tony Roche warned Rafter not to put his tennis future at risk by playing the Davis Cup.

Roche said it would be unfair to expect Rafter to withdraw from his US Open defence to help spearhead Australia. ``But If I know Pat, it's going to take more than a sore shoulder to stop him,'' Roche said.