SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras have played magnificent tennis all over the world. Scottsdale, though, has been a problem.

This year could be different, judging from the way they disposed of first-round opponents Tuesday at the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic.

The top-seeded Agassi, knocked out of the tournament by Francisco Clavet the past two years, faced the Spaniard again and defeated him 6-3, 6-2.

Sampras, who has never made it past the second round in four previous appearances in Scottsdale, needed just 44 minutes to beat Byron Black 6-1, 6-2. He lost only three points on serve.

Two of the top four seeds were upset in the first round. No. 2 seed Tommy Haas was beaten by Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-3. Fourth-seeded Guillermo Canas lost to Michel Kratochvil 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

"I thought I played pretty well," Sampras said. "I played pretty sharp, I was happy with the way I served, and I got a pretty good rhythm going from the backcourt."

Sampras hadn't played since his Davis Cup match a month ago, and that was his only action since his disappointing performance in the Australian Open. He hasn't won a tournament since Wimbledon in 2000.

Looking to return to his old form, Sampras dumped Tom Gullikson as coach and last week replaced him with Jose Higueras.

"I don't like to lose, if it's this tournament or the U.S. Open, it still matters enough to try to go out and win any event," Sampras said. "I'd like to get back in the winner's circle, no doubt, and I feel like I'm going to do that this year."

Coming off an excruciatingly close loss to No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt in the finals of the Siebel Open on Sunday, Agassi had an unbeatable combination of power and control against Clavet.

"It really surprised me," Agassi said. "I came here with the expectation of the ball really flying off my racket. ... Today I was a lot more comfortable than I thought I'd be on my ground strokes.

"I even felt like I could step up and be aggressive."

Agassi lost to Clavet in the second round of the Franklin Templeton two years ago and in the first round last year.

Agassi had no such trouble on Tuesday. The first set was onesided, the second a rout. Clavet, the defending champion, didn't win a point through the first 11 serves of the second set.

Agassi missed the Australian Open with an injured right wrist. The Siebel tournament was his first official stop since the Tennis Masters Cup in mid-November.

He said his play in San Jose, when he lost after getting to match point twice in the final, has him believing he is headed for a good year.

At 31, with a new baby with wife Steffi Graf, he is weary of traveling, but not ready to give up the sport.

"I still have more tennis in me," Agassi said. "For me to rest well at the end of my career, I've got to see this through, that I feel like I gave it all that I have, not just stop because it's convenient."

Haas was up 2-1 after breaking serve in the third set, but was doomed by five double-faults in the next game.

Moya had his hair in decorative braids as part of a promise following his victory Sunday in Acapulco, Mexico. He had planned to take out the braids Tuesday night.

"But since I won, I don't know what to do," he said.