The in-form Paradorn Srichaphan squashed the Spanish "Mosquito" in a one-sided third round match at the US$3.1 million (Bt124 million) Tennis Master Series in Indian Wells yesterday.

Unleashing 28 winners from all over the court, Paradorn sent the 14th-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero - nicknamed "Mosquito" - out of the tournament in two sets, winning 6-2 6-2 in only 63 minutes. The Spaniard was Paradorn's second seeded victim after he knocked out American Robby Ginepri, the 18th-seed, in the second round a day earlier.

The win reduced the head-to-head deficit against Ferrero to 2-3. Paradorn's first victory over the former world No 1 was also in two sets four years ago in Paris.

Chanachai, his father and former coach, said his son is displaying the same level of tennis as when he took the world by storm in 2002. He said part of the resurgence in form of Paradorn was because the Thai ace was not mentally disrupted, especially over his fall in the rankings and his love life.

"He was under a lot of pressure and didn't have the kind of confidence he once had. That was why his previous results were not the way he would want them to be," said Chanachai, who let his eldest son Thanakorn take over as coach.

"Paradorn could not concentrate on tennis much earlier because of a girl. But it was just one of many factors," added Chanachai.

Paradorn recently broke up with supermodel Odette Henriette Jacqmin, who has been giving interviews to various kinds of media and in the process throwing volleys at Paradorn for having a roving eye.

Chanachai talked with his son in a long distant phone call after his latest match and suggested he be patient on some points and not try to hit early winners in his next round match against world No 4 David Nalbandian of Argentina.

After bowing out in four first rounds this year before going to Indian Wells, Paradorn has now started to play like the "Thai Tiger" again - a label given to him by the foreign media. Ferrero should have played better yesterday as he had winner after winner ripped past him.

An early break propelled Paradorn to a 4-2 lead in the first set. An incredible running forehand down the line that landed on the line made Ferrero look at his opponent in astonishment as the Thai had a chance to break. The dispirited Ferrero then surrendered that game with an easy backhand error.

The Thai finished the first set with a love game. The set was over after a thunderous forehand winner from Paradorn left the Spaniard stranded.

Paradorn used his masterly groundstrokes to keep the down-hearted Ferrero at bay in the second set, breaking twice for a 3-0 lead.

Former French Open champion Ferrero rallied to save two match points at 5-1 and escaped safely to follow at 5-2. But Paradorn showed no sign of letting up, hitting one of his seven aces to close out the match.

Tomorrow Paradorn will play world No 4 David Nalbandian, who has beat him twice - 6-2 6-2 in Basel last year and 6-3 6-1 in Madrid two years ago.

A baffled Andre Agassi was bundled out of the Open 7-5 6-2 by Germany's Tommy Haas.

Despite his status as the Masters Series event's eighth seed, Agassi clearly had his work cut out for him against Haas, who has already won titles this year in Delray Beach and Memphis and reached the semi-finals in Doha.

Two of the 27-year-old German's three defeats this year have come to world No 1 Roger Federer, including a fourth-round loss in the Australian Open.

Agassi, in contrast, was playing in just his third tournament of the year after being sidelined by injury late in 2005. Still, it was unlike the 35-year-old veteran to squander two set points on his own serve in the opening set, which he led 5-4 and 40-15 before Haas roared back.

"I just couldn't get my teeth back in the match," Agassi said. "I started second-guessing my shots. I never found the pace I was looking for. I played too big some points and some points I would try to control a bit more. Then I'd give him too good of a look."

Despite his lack of tournament play, Agassi acknowledged that he had hoped for more here, where after a first-round bye he needed three sets to beat 63rd-ranked Paul Goldstein.

"I've had a few tournaments

to see improvements," he said.

"I definitely expected more."

Haas booked a meeting with American James Blake, who beat Spain's Tommy Robredo 6-2 7-5.

"You know, serving at 40-15 [Agassi] probably should have won the first set," Haas said. "But I didn't let go. He came up with some loose shots. I came up with some good ones."

Third-seeded Andy Roddick, another American who has been trying to turn around an indifferent early season, maintained his momentum with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Spain's Fernando Verdasco.

"It's good," said Roddick, whose four defeats this year have come against players outside the top 50.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation, Agencies