NEW YORK (AP) – If Andre Agassi keeps this up, it’s going to be absolutely exhausting. For him, for his opponent, for his fans, for everyone at the U.S. Open.

Knowing each time he steps on the court could be his last match as a pro, Agassi clearly does not want to go gently, and he kept overcoming deficits Monday night, pushing his 36-year-old body around Arthur Ashe Stadium for 31/2 hours.

Eventually, Agassi managed to win the first match of his final tournament, coming back to beat Andrei Pavel of Romania 6-7 (4), 7-6 (8), 7-6 (6), 6-2 before an Open-record night session crowd of 23,736. Most were on their feet when Agassi’s eyes welled up with tears as he served out the final point after midnight.

“You want it to be everything you hope it is,” Agassi said. “It was perfect.”

There were moments, though, when it looked as if Agassi would be bidding adieu for good. After he lost the first set, for example. And especially when he fell behind 4-0 in the third set, causing his wife, former star Steffi Graf, to pace a bit.

“I thought,” Pavel said, “‘I have him.”‘

Yet that’s when Agassi found the energy and shots to reverse things. Coincidence or not, he went on a five-game run shortly after motioning to his coach, Darren Cahill, to bring him more tightly strung rackets. It also was around that time that Pavel – a 32-year-old ranked 77th who hadn’t played a hard-court match since March – was visited by a trainer because of stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Agassi got to a third tiebreaker, then dominated the final set. It was a fitting way to cap a day that celebrated three of the sport’s most significant figures. Before Agassi’s match, the U.S. Tennis Association rededicated its facility, naming it the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. And Jimmy Connors was on the scene, too, coaching Andy Roddick and soaking in the adoration.

Roddick enlisted Connors last month, after a third-round exit at Wimbledon, and the partnership appears to be paying off, so far. Roddick says his attitude can’t help but be improved with the enthusiastic Connors in his corner, and the 2003 U.S. Open champion began this year’s last major by beating Florent Serra of France 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

Roddick, who ended a 10-month title drought after teaming with Connors, joined four other past Open champions who reached the second round: Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Svetlana Kuznetsova … and, of course, Agassi – bad back, 9-7 record this year, and all.

“I want to be here real bad, for the whole two weeks,” Agassi said. “I really want to leave my best stuff on the court. … I’m very proud of this day, and I’m glad it gets to happen again.”

Next for Agassi is a match Thursday against eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, a 21-year-old player who reached the Australian Open final and Wimbledon semifinals this year. He should be a sterner test than Pavel.

“Such a talent,” Agassi said. “One of those guys you’d pay to go watch.”

He should know. Agassi won the Open in 1994 and 1999, part of his collection of eight Grand Slam titles, and was the runner-up four times, including last year. When Agassi won that first U.S. Open championship, his blond hair was long and tucked under a ballcap, his shirt was a loud purple, and he wore a pinkie ring and dangling earring.

Hard to believe that same person was under the lights Monday. Look at Agassi now: shaved head, country-club-ready white outfit, and the beaded necklace that reads, “Daddy Rocks,” made by his son. Both of Agassi’s children were in the stands; in the fourth set, Graf was using a video camera, just like any parent on an outing with the kids. Agassi’s father was there, too, as was his brother Phil.

“It would be nice if he wins, but it’s not important really,” Phil Agassi said before the match. “Even if he loses love and love, it won’t put a damper on everything he’s done. Everyone is here, the whole office and the whole family.”

Agassi stepped out of the locker room, dropped his racket back on the carpet and took a few moments to stretch. After walking out on to the court to a rousing ovation, he shared a hug with King, who handled the coin toss.

“You’re going all the way!” came a shout from the stands.

After trotting back to a baseline for the prematch warmup, Agassi paused, glanced around the arena and took a deep breath.

He knew, after all, this moment would arrive. It was time to take it all in.

Once play began, the beseeching cries of “Let’s go, Ahhn-dray!” could, in theory, have been for either competitor. Just to make it absolutely clear how the crowd felt, one man yelled out in the second tiebreaker: “There’s only one Andre!”

Late in the second set, some fans began applauding Pavel’s faults, and the chair umpire repeatedly asked for quiet. As Pavel presciently put it beforehand: “I hope there are going to be five or six people cheering for me.”

The flash bulbs popped from the start, during warmups, between games, between points. During points, even.

And Agassi provided some picture-perfect moments, glimpses of his glorious past, of the player who’s won 60 singles titles. He smacked 17 aces at up to 125 mph. He took as big a cut as you’ll ever see on some groundstrokes, as though putting whatever energy he might have left into each swing. He used what was often considered his trademark, the hard-hit return, to gain the advantage at times. One example: He turned around a 123 mph serve with a backhand return right at the baseline that Pavel couldn’t handle, giving Agassi a 9-8 edge in the second tiebreaker.

“He’s still one of the fittest guys on tour,” Pavel said. “He’s amazing.”

Yet it was also clear why Agassi decided to announce in June that this would be his farewell event. Over and over, Pavel would end points with short drop shots that Agassi wouldn’t even chase. Agassi double-faulted eight times. And as much of a baseline tactician as Agassi always has been, it was Pavel who had the better of many of their lengthy groundstroke exchanges, winning 14 of 21 points that lasted 10 strokes or longer through the first two sets.

Still, on one of those points, Agassi’s defense was enough that Pavel sailed a backhand long to end the second set. Agassi pumped his fist toward Cahill and others in the players’ box, then shook his racket in Graf’s direction.

The spectators rose in unison, staying on their feet and applauding throughout the changeover. When it was time to start the third set, Agassi skipped out to the baseline, looking downright childlike.

“He’s the man right now,” Pavel said. “I wish him well. I hope he can go all the way. He deserves it.”

AP-ES-08-29-06 0115EDT