PARIS (AFP) - French superkid Gael Monfils spectacularly lifted the gloom at the 2.45-million-euro Paris Masters by battling back to defeat former champion Thomas Enqvist 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and book a second round clash against second seed Lleyton Hewitt.
The 18-year-old Monfils, who won the Australian and French Open as well as Wimbledon junior title this year, was just 10 years old when the experienced Swede lifted the trophy here in 1996.
But on Monday, after suffering severe stagefright in a brutally one-sided first set, he launched a blistering display of uninhibited tennis to eventually wear down the 30-year-old holder of 19 career titles in six minutes short of two hours.
Monfils, who came through the qualifying tournament, played a huge role in lifting the gloom after organisers had reacted furiously to the news that former world number one Andre Agassi had become the latest big name to skip the event through injury.
The American veteran, twice a champion here and seeded five, told organisers that he had injured his right hip while Argentina's David Nalbandian, the eighth seed, also pulled out citing a knee injury.
World number one Roger Federer, former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and world number five Guillermo Coria of Argentina all pulled out last week.
"The organisers of the Paris Masters deplore these withdrawals which have added to the long list of players absent both from Paris and the Madrid Masters two weeks ago," said a tournament spokesman.
"Whatever the reasons, these withdrawals from the elite ATP tournaments bring discredit to the circuit."
Such is the concern that the directors of the five European Masters tournaments will meet here on Tuesday to discuss the problem with many event organisers demanding financial penalties be introduced.
The withdrawal of the two players was a boost for defending Paris champion Tim Henman and Russia's Marat Safin, who have now secured their spots at the season-ending Masters Cup in Houston, regardless of their performances here.
Coria, who hasn't played since July, also books a place in the eight-man lineup in Texas along with Federer, Andy Roddick, Hewitt, Moya and French Open winner Gaston Gaudio.
Federer withdrew from Paris last week with a thigh injury while Moya has failed to recover from a right shoulder injury.
Monfils was a quarter-finalist in Metz two weeks ago as he made his Tour debut but in the early stages of Monday's match, he looked to be heading for a quick exit.
Enqvist raced through the first set in just 24 minutes blitzing the jewellery-bedecked French teenager but Monfils, with the shackles lifted, began to play without fear as his punishing groundstrokes and willingness to improvise paid huge dividends.
He levelled the contest after 67 minutes by taking the second set and could even afford to squander two match points in the eighth game of the decider.
There was a temporary delay as a spectator collapsed in the stands and needed to be stretchered away for treatment but Monfils kept his concentration to clinch victory on his third match point.
Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, saw off Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to book a second clash with third seed Henman.
There were also wins for Mardy Fish of the United States, Belarus's Max Mirnyi, Sweden's Robin Soderling, Belgium's Christophe Rochus and Frenchman Cyril Saulnier.
11/01/2004 - 19:11 GMT - AFP