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Agassi, Kuerten advance, Bhupathi out

Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt was knocked out 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 by American Jan-Michael Gambill, while second seed Andre Agassi outhit 19-year-old Taylor Dent 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 4-0 (retired) in the first round of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London.

India's lone hope in the tournment, Mahesh Bhupathi bowed out when he lost to Stephane Huet of France.

The wildcard entrant lost the match to the French qualifier despite beginning well by clinching the first set in a tiebreak.

Bhupathi lost 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 1-6.

Defending women's champion Lindsay Davenport won her first round match when her opponent retired. But it was also bad news for her as Corina Morariu is her doubles partner.

Hewett had had beaten Pete Sampras in the final of his last tournament on grass at Queen's and was on a 13-game winning streak when he came to the All England Club.

His departure opens the way into the semifinals for defending champion Sampras, bidding for a record 13th grand slam title.

Maenwhile, it was a bad day for France - seventh seed Nathalie Tauziat, 13th seed Amelie Mauresmo and 14th seed Julie Halard-Decugi, winner at Eastbourne last weekend, fell at the first hurdle.

Tauziat lost to Belgium's Kim Clijsters 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and broke down in tears at a news conference as she announced her retirement.

''This year I wanted to come here and play well and I didn't so that's it - I'm finished,'' said Tauziat.

Halard-Decugis fell to Kristie Boogert of the Netherlands 7-6, 0-6, 6-1. Mauresmo lost 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Gala Leon Garcia.

Sixth seed Monica Seles and ninth seed Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario both survived three setters to advance.

Seles beat Karina Habsudova 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 while Sanchez-Vicario beat hard-hitting Justine Henin of Belgium 6-1,1-6, 6-1 in a see-saw match.

Fourth seed Conchita Martinez beat Luxembourg's Anne Kremer 6-3, 7-6 in a match held over from Monday and 12th seed Amanda Coetzer eased past Mashona Washington 6-4 6-2.

Mark Woodforde withdrew from his match with Swedish third seed Magnus Norman on court 18 to save himself for the men's doubles.

It was Norman who slipped several times before Australian Woodforde pulled out citing a back injury. Woodforde was trailing 6-4, 6-2, 2-0.

Adrian Voinea of Romania pulled out after just six games of his match against Austria's Stefan Koubek while Bohdan Ulihrach of the Czech Republic retired from his match with Belarussian Max Myrni while trailing 6-2, 4-0. He said he was feeling sick.

Fourth seed Gustavo Kuerten had to fight hard to wear down American Davis Cup hero Chris Woodruff 6-4, 6-7, 7-5, 7-6.

Fifth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov made heavy work of Switzerland's Roger Federer before coming through 7-5, 7-5, 7-6 while fellow Russian Marat Safin, seeded 15th, beat Spain's Galo Blanco 7-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Australian 12th seed Patrick Rafter overcame Britain's Jamie Delgado 6-3, 7-6, 6-1.

Eighth seed Tim Henman restored some British pride by beating Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.