WASHINGTON, July 17: Andre agassi's return from a two and a half month's lay off was brief and unimpressive.

The former world number one was upset 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 by 174th-ranked fellow American Doug Flach here yesterday in a second round match at the ATP Washington Classic, the first hardcourt tune-up for the US Open.

Agassi, ranked 31st, made 15 double faults in losing for the seventh time in past eight ATP matches.

``I got off to a good start but I got tired,'' Agassi said. ``I haven't played that much tennis in the past two and half months. I wasn't expecting a whole lot. To stay on the court for more than an hour is uncharted territory for me. I didn't have my court legs.''

Flach, who upset Agassi last year in the first round at Wimbledon, advanced to a third-round match today against 192th-ranked Ranier Schuttler of Germany.

Flach served 10 aces, including match point. He also made an impressive run of four in a row to save two break points and win the sixth game of the third set.

``That was great,'' he said. ``That was the first time I have done that. He was a little slow. But I hit four great serves. I really surprised myself.''Australian qualifier Michael Tebbutt, who had not won an ATP match since last year's US Open, won his second in as many days, upsetting fourth-seeded American Chris Woodruff 6-3, 6-3, in the second round.

Rubin beats White blue

MAHWAH: Chanda Rubin made a triumphant return with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Mary Carlisle White in A and P Tennis Classic.

White hung tough early, but the fourth-seeded Rubin earned the match's first service break in the 10th game to win the first set. Also advancing to the quarter-finals yesterday was fifth-seeded Magdalena Maleeva, a 6-1, 6-2 victor over Stephanie Chi.

Bruguera advances

Stutgart:Fourth seed Sergi Bruguera started a busy day off on the right note for Spain, defeating no. 14 Wayne Ferreira 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals of the $1.04 million Mercedes Cup today.

Bruguera, a two-time French Open Champion completed a successful comeback against the South African in one hour 35 minutes.

Boris Becker, will play Spain's Clay specialist Albert Costa. Becker is still looking for a first career title on clay after reaching finals in Monte Carlo twice and once in Hamburg on the surface which has become his nemesis.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.