TENNIS ROUNDUP : Agassi Flies Into Final vs. Gilbert

Andre Agassi made quick work of Jeff Tarango with a 6-3, 6-3 victory Saturday in the semifinals of the Volvo San Francisco tennis tournament.

Agassi will play Brad Gilbert in today’s final. Gilbert advanced when Jimmy Connors retired, trailing, 4-6, 1-4, because of bone spurs in his right foot.

Agassi plans to commute to tournaments daily on his private jet when he is within reasonable flying time of his Las Vegas home. That was his strategy for San Francisco.

“You have to understand that flying a private plane, it’s no worse than a car ride from here to the hotel,” Agassi said. “It’s relaxing. I wouldn’t do it if it were a two-hour flight.”

Agassi’s plane rides were shorter than his tennis matches. His serve has been broken once in four matches.

Tarango said he believes being passed by Pete Sampras and Jim Courier in the rankings has been a motivational factor for Agassi.

“I think his determination is definitely stronger now,” Tarango said. “I don’t think he likes the fact that Pete and Jim have passed him up. They may not have what he has, but they win.”

“It’s easy to play when you’re hot,” Agassi said. “But how good can you be when you’re not hot?”

Martina Navratilova defeated Larisa Neiland of Latvia, 6-2, 6-2, in less than an hour today to win the $750,000 Pan Pacific Open at Yokohama, Japan.

Navratilova received $150,000 for her 162th title. Neiland, ranked 74th in the world, earned $67,500.

Navratilova kept to a consistent serve-and-volley game on the artificial court at the Yokohama Arena. Neiland had five aces but also double-faulted eight times.