Agassi Applies Final Touches

The 30-year-old body was put back together again--the renovation project completed just in time for 2001--but memories of the hard work and pain still lingered in the back of Andre Agassi’s mind today.

This is why the sixth-seeded Agassi basked in the admiration of a sellout crowd at Rod Laver Arena when he won the Australian Open, beating No. 15 Arnaud Clement of France, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, in 1 hour 46 minutes. He started talking about relishing the victory, his third title here, because, well, you never know when it might be the last one.

For a second or two, it seemed as though Agassi was about to make some sort of Patrick Rafter-type of announcement. Was this going to be his final Australian Open?

But Agassi kept talking and those concerns eased. Anyone who is familiar with Agassi’s life this past year can understand the need for perspective. He won the Australian Open last year and did not win another event until now.

After his triumph here in 2000, he had an injury-marred year, failing to defend his French Open title and U.S. Open championship. Four times, he retired during matches because of an injury and was forced to pull out of other events.

His mother and sister were both diagnosed with breast cancer, and Agassi was unable to make the trip to Sydney for the Olympics to defend his singles title. In the midst of his personal crisis, he faced the small speedy Clement at the U.S. Open and lost in straight sets in the second round.

“It wasn’t an easy year,” Agassi said. “The year before was so incredible. It’s almost impossible not to have a letdown. My body broke down. Some personal things took a toll. At the end of the day, you fight one battle at a time.,

“You can’t take that for granted.”

Agassi is unbeaten in Australian Open finals, 3-0, and this is his seventh Grand Slam singles title as he moved past Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg. He is now tied with eight players at seven, including John McEnroe, Mats Wilander and John Newcombe.

Jimmy Connors is one ahead of Agassi. Certainly, Agassi will be aiming for that mark, considering Connors has been critical of him in the past.

Despite his troubles, Agassi has won four of the last eight Grand Slams. Not a bad percentage, better than Shaquille O’Neal’s free-throw shooting percentage. Four of his Slams have come after he turned 29.

“You check them off one at a time--a list of accomplishments and you do your best,” Agassi said. “It’s quite a great feeling.”

And he is feeling pleased he won’t have to hop on a plane and travel to Zimbabwe for Davis Cup. Agassi even said that he and his coach, Brad Gilbert, were joking about that before the final.

Immediately after last year’s title, Agassi flew to Harare for a demanding first-round Davis Cup match. He got sick in his final singles match and was never really quite the same.

The lack of tournament titles since Melbourne had the Agassi camp feeling superstitious. His girlfriend, Steffi Graf, fitness trainer Gil Reyes and Gilbert occupied the same three seats in the press section as last year.

There was not much need for concern. Clement, who was appearing in his first Grand Slam final, did not seem to have much left after his dramatic comeback in the semifinals against countryman and close friend Sebastien Grosjean. Against Grosjean, he lost the first two sets and survived two match points in the third.

“I’m just glad he didn’t do it today,” Agassi said.

Agassi’s lulls were minimal in the final. He lost the first six points of the match but it seemed as though he was simply taking measure of Clement. Shortly thereafter, he went on to take control, establishing a 4-1 lead within 18 minutes.

In the second set, Agassi committed only six unforced errors and kept the ball deep, forcing Clement to stay on the run.

“It was OK, I wasn’t very nervous,” Clement said. “Today, he was just too strong for me.”

Clement was more unnerved when he had to read his speech during the awards ceremony. He was the first Frenchman to reach the final here since Jean Borotra won it in 1928.

A French journalist helped him write two versions, win or lose, and gave the speech in English and French.

“First, I would like to apologize to speak English so badly,” an emotional Clement said. “First I prepare a little speech on a piece of paper. I have just lived the two most unbelievable weeks. To compete in a Grand Slam final seem unreal to me. . . . I don’t forget my mate Sebastien, who must be very disappointed. He called me this morning and told me he was behind me.”

Agassi, who tipped his cap to his box and blew a kiss to Graf after he hit a backhand winner down the line on match point, smiled at Clement and praised him during the ceremony.

“I didn’t prepare anything, can I borrow your speech?” Agassi said, joking.

He talked about the difficult past 12 months.

“You never know when the last time you’re going to be here is and it never ceased to be overwhelming,” Agassi said. “All the hard work and training that goes into putting yourself in this position is difficult and hard, but it’s worth it.

” . . . And if this is somehow the last one I manage to win, I hope it’s not, I’m truly honored and privileged to share it with you.”

The many stops and starts of his roller-coaster career are helping him now. At 30, Agassi wants to keep playing for several more years and feels he can do so.

“So much is about your health,” he said. “For me, my career hasn’t been nonstop. It’s saved me for the long term. I think my best tennis can still be ahead of me.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

GRAND TIME

Andre Agassi is 7-5 in Grand Slam finals:

U.S. OPEN: 2-2

FRENCH OPEN: 1-2

WIMBLEDON: 1-1

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: 3-0

AGASSI’S GRAND SLAM TITLES

* 1992 Wimbledon: def. Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

* 1994 U.S. Open: def. Michael Stich, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

* 1995 Australian Open: def. Pete Sampras, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

* 1999 French Open: def. Andrei Medvedev, 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

* 1999 U.S. Open: def. Todd Martin, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2.

* 2000 Australian Open: def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

* 2001 Australian Open: def. Arnaud Clement, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

1990 French Open -- lost to Andres Gomez, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

1990 U.S. Open -- lost to Pete Sampras, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

1991 French Open -- lost to Jim Courier, 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

1992 Wimbledon -- def. Goran Ivanisevic, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.

1994 U.S. Open -- def. Michael Stich, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

1995 Australian Open -- def. Pete Sampras, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6), 6-4.

1995 U.S. Open -- lost to Pete Sampras, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.

1999 French Open -- def. Andrei Medvedev, 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.

1999 Wimbledon -- lost to Pete Sampras, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

1999 U.S. Open -- def. Todd Martin, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2.

2000 Australian Open -- def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

2001 Australian Open -- vs. Arnaud Clement.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Box Score

The box score of No. 6 Andre Agassi’s 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 15 Arnaud Clement in the final of the Australian Open:

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AGASSI CLEMENT First-serve percentage 65 52 Aces 7 5 Double faults 1 7 Percentage first-serve points won 72 60 Percentage second-serve points won 46 40 Winners (includes service) 24 34 Unforced errors 31 43 Break points 7-15 2-6 Net points 11-15 5-9 Total points 94 77

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