AGASSI: NEWS
AGASSI HAS EYES ON PROCESS
Wednesday, 8 January, 2003
by Kevin Diggerson
Andre Agassi all but owns centre court at Melbourne Park. The three-time Australian Open champion enters the tournament with an incredible 32-3 record at the home of the Grand Slam of Asia/Pacific, a tournament he has won in his last two attempts. But despite his history of success in Melbourne, Agassi enters the championship with no specific thoughts of holding the Sir Norman Brookes Trophy aloft for a fourth time.
"I don't go into any tournament thinking about winning it," Agassi said after arriving in Melbourne.
"That is a function of a lot of things happening the right way and it sort of starts with the mentality of not winning the tournament (but) of taking the next step today; getting more prepared today and taking each match as it comes.
"Had I even won it three times in a row I wouldn't be here with any expectation of winning. I would be here with expectation of finding a way to get the job done and that's everyday. I like to stick with the same plan and get myself ready to go. If my game feels good and I am fresh I like the way I feel out there."
It is that methodical approach to success that has seen Agassi claim 54 career titles including seven in Grand Slam championships. One of only five men to have triumphed at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Flushing Meadows and Melbourne Park, Agassi was cruelly denied his chance at further etching his name into the annals of tennis folklore twelve months ago.
Seeking to become the first man to win three consecutive Australian titles in the open era, Agassi was forced to forgo his tilt at history and pull out on the eve of the 2002 tournament because of a wrist injury. Even those painful memories, however, fail to dim his obvious love affair with Melbourne.
"I have always enjoyed playing here and it's had many great memories for me," Agassi said.
"To be back is a thrill for me and the moment I landed I felt excited and comfortable and ready to go and eager. The court is playing great and I am having a good time."
That Agassi is back in Melbourne with the chance to add another chapter to his incredible career speaks volumes for the determination and pride that has marked his career. When Agassi left Melbourne last year he faced an uncertain future. He was working with a new coach in Darren Cahill, he would have to overcome the wrist injury and hungry young opponents were snapping at his heels.
All Agassi did after rehabilitating his wrist was win five tournaments, reach the US Open final, finish the year in the top 10 for the 13th time and, at 32 years and eight months, become the oldest player to end the year at No.2. It was a campaign he could look back on with pride.
"It was a good year. It didn't get started off too well but I felt like I managed to bring out some pretty good tennis at different stages and considered it a relative success."
A major part of Agassi's continued success can be attributed to the relationship he has struck up with Cahill, a former dual winner of the ATP tour - a fact not lost on the American.
"I think really what he has done has spoken for itself," Agassi said of Cahill.
"Last year when we started together I was coming of a serious wrist concern where I hadn't played and lost the chance to defend (the Australian Open). I had (ATP points from) Palm Springs coming off, I had a win in Key Biscayne coming off and I was probably a lot closer to being ranked No.50 in the world than I was where we started. It was just a lot of ground work that needed to get laid and I think he has brought a great discipline, a great work ethic and great knowledge to how I can utilize my game at this stage of my career. I think it has given me the platform to still be out here."
But while Cahill may lay the ground work, it is Agassi that has to deliver, something he continues to do in his 18th year on the tour. His penchant for hard work is almost as insatiable as his desire to be the best player he can be.
"I feel in a position to be (fitter) this year but every year it becomes more important for me to be strong and healthy," he said.
"It gets harder and harder, guys get better and better and if I don't go out there even more prepared than I was the year before I feel like they can hurt my confidence, have an effect on my matches, so I need to keep pushing myself. It's the only thing I count on"
While Agassi believes his work ethic is the only thing he can count on, the Las Vegas native has clearly forgotten one important thing. He can count on the fact that while he may not be thinking about winning the 2003 Australian Open, the other 127 players in the men's draw know that if they are to claim the year's first Grand Slam title they will have to get past Agassi to do it.
