MONTREAL -- Simon Larose realized a dream by playing against boyhood idol Andre Agassi, but reality didn't include defeating the top-seeded American at the $2.45-million US Tennis Masters Canada tournament yesterday. Larose, from Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Que., had the Centre Court crowd on its feet as he shot to a 4-1 first-set lead. But the Canadian crumbled before Agassi's relentless groundstrokes 6-4, 6-2 in third-round play at du Maurier Stadium.

"When you play a guy like Andre or Pete (Sampras), it's a little more nerve-racking, especially when it's your first time," said Larose, 25. "It was a great experience.

Agassi reached the quarter-finals of this event for the ninth time and meets eighth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler, who downed the 10th seed, Czech Jiri Novak, 7-5, 6-4.

Sixth-seeded American Andy Roddick breezed past France's Sebastien Grosjean, the ninth seed, 6-3, 6-3. Roddick moved to a quarter-final meeting with Slovakian Karol Kucera, who upset French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.

"Karol's a streaky player," Roddick said of Kucera, a former top-10 player who has been plagued by wrist injuries in recent years. "Some days, he's very, very good.

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer of Switzerland, the third seed, advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 win over 16th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Argentina.

With the win, Federer passed Ferrero for first place in the ATP Champions race.

Hard-serving Max Mirnyi of Belarus followed his upset win over former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia by ousting 11th-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand 6-3, 6-2.

Mirnyi will meet Federer in the quarter-finals, while 2002 Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian of Argentina faces Spain's Feliciano Lopez.

Larose is the first Canadian to reach the third round of the tournament since Sebastien Lareau in 2000.

Larose bounced back from his defeat two hours later with a win in first-round doubles play with partner Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, over Czechs Novak and Radek Stepanek, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).