Young gun Nadal outdoes veteran Agassi

Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal claimed the first hardcourt title of his career, subduing US veteran Andre Agassi 6-3 4-6 6-2 to win the Montreal Masters Series crown yesterday.
The 19-year-old top seed, who was meeting the 35-year-old Agassi for the first time, captured his ATP Tour-best ninth title of the year, matching the record for tournament victories in a season by a teenager set by Mats Wilander in 1983.
Nadal's first eight titles of the year came on clay, including the French Open and Masters Series triumphs in Rome and Monte Carlo.
But with two weeks before the year's final Grand Slam, the hardcourt US Open, Nadal showed he can shine on cement as well.
Nadal broke Agassi in the third and fifth games of the decisive set to improve his ATP-best record to 65 wins and eight losses this year. He took home a winner's prize of US$400,000 ($572,819) from the US$2.45 million purse.
Agassi, who had to win twice yesterday to reach the final after rain disrupted the quarterfinals, was aiming for his fourth title in Canada, where he won in 1992, 1994 and 1995.
He was also seeking his second straight ATP victory, after claiming his 61st career title in Los Angeles on July 31.
Unforced errors from both players dotted the first set, with Agassi's 11 to the five of Nadal proving a sign of things to come. The US veteran finished with a total of 40 unforced errors to Nadal's 14.
The young Spaniard gained the upper hand with a break for 3-1 in the opening set, then fended off a break point in the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. He couldn't capitalise on a set point against Agassi's serve in the next game, but closed out the set on his own serve just as rain struck and halted play for an hour.
Agassi returned from the interruption with a determined look, but Nadal's defence proved impenetrable until the 10th game, when Agassi gave himself two set points with a sizzling forehand down the line.
Nadal saved one, then netted a forehand as Agassi squared the match at one set apiece.
Nadal quickly took charge in the third, however, parlaying his two service breaks into a 5-1 lead as determinedly slowed down Agassi's pace of play. Agassi's final show of resistance was to serve a love game for 5-2, but he could do nothing to stop Nadal wrapping up the match in 1hr 58min.- Reuters