Agassi comes off the ropes to register win over Ancic

Andre Agassi lost the first two sets to Mario Ancic.
PARIS (AP) -- Like Goran Ivanisevic, a compatriot and longtime practice partner, 19-year-old Mario Ancic is a tall, lanky native of Split, Croatia, who speaks in a baritone and swings with abandon, which makes him a dangerous opponent.
Just ask Andre Agassi.
Ancic won the first two sets and was twice up a service break in the third before he wavered only slightly. Ever the opportunist, Agassi seized the opening and rallied to win 5-7, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in the second round of the French Open.
"You fell down just little bit, and then he take over and everything changes so fast," said Ancic. "Every small chance, it's like whole planet. It's such a big thing."
The 3-hour, 13-minute drama thrilled the crowd on Court Suzanne Lenglen and served as a tribute to Agassi's remarkable fitness at age 33. Five times he has won after losing the first two sets, including against Andrei Medvedev in the 1999 French Open final.
"He just earned it. It wasn't that I gave it," Ancic said. "That's why he won so many Grand Slams."
Potential
The match also underscored the potential of Ancic, who reached the fourth round in the Australian Open in January and beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon last summer.
In his appearance, mannerisms and shotmaking, Ancic draws comparisons to Ivanisevic, whose droll wit and high-wire tennis, especially at Wimbledon, made him one of the most popular players on the men's tour.
Wednesday's match left no doubt that Ancic possesses the talent to justify the comparisons.
"He has so much eagerness," Agassi said. "He wants every point, no matter what the score. That's a good thing for his future."
One frantic exchange sent the 6-foot-4 Ancic sprawling not once, but twice. He hit a lunging volley and rolled in the dirt, rose, then dove again but failed to intercept an Agassi winner. Ancic slowly stood to cheers, his backside caked with clay that was still there when the match ended.
By improving to 9-0 this year in Grand Slam events, Agassi advanced to the third round against 26th-seeded Xavier Malisse. The Belgian survived his own five-setter, beating Stefan Koubek 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 8-6.
Streak extended
On the women's side, defending champion Serena Williams extended her Grand Slam winning streak to 30 matches, beating Marie-Gaianeh Mikaelian 6-3, 6-2. Also advancing were No. 4 Justine Henin-Hardenne, No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo and No. 8 Chanda Rubin.
There were two other second-round marathons.
American 18-year-old Ashley Harkleroad advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam event for the first time, beating ninth-seeded Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (2), 4-6, 9-7.
Agassi's problem at the finish wasn't conditioning, but nerves. Serving for the match at 5-3, he double-faulted three times, including once on match point and again on break point.
Ancic saved four match points in all before dumping his final shot into the net. That made it 148 points for Agassi, 147 for Ancic.
"You certainly feel relieved that you sort of have another life now," Agassi said of his great escape. "I put the wins behind me a lot easier than the losses."
The victory was the 763rd for Agassi, putting him one ahead of Pete Sampras in sixth place among Open Era leaders.
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