The top-seeded players among the men, though, may face some stumbling blocks before the semifinals.
The tournament's other top-seeded players also had tough matches yesterday.
Agassi's loss marked the sixth straight year that the men's top-seeded player had failed to win here.
But even on an off day, the top-seeded player proved too much for her.
Navratilova, the top-seeded player, won the title for the eighth time and added $60,000 to her career earnings.
"There were a couple of games where my concentration was not on every point," said Graf, the women's top-seeded player.
All the top-seeded players understand what it feels like to be burdened by expectations.
Furthermore, there are dozens of top tournaments all over the world, and the system is set up to favor the top-seeded players.
She was the top-seeded player, but lost to Vania King.
Things on the women's side seem simpler: the three top-seeded players have each won a Grand Slam in 1990.