Dent loses to Roux, Agassi’s replacement

LOS ANGELES -- Newport Beach’s Taylor Dent, 19, was scheduled to

face Andre Agassi in the first round of the main draw in the

Mercedes-Benz Cup, but Agassi withdrew because of a lower back injury.

Instead, Dent played France’s Lionel Roux, who replaced Agassi in the

draw. On Tuesday, Roux was extended by Dent to three sets before winning,

6-4, 1-6, 6-3, in the Association of Tennis Professionals’ Tour stop at

the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA.

Dent, a Corona del Mar High product, earned a wild card into the

$375,000 Mercedes-Benz Cup.

As a high school freshman in 1996, Dent won the CIF Southern Section

singles champion under Coach Tim Mang.

Dent last month lost to Agassi in the first round at Wimbledon.