«--

jaccol55 · 23-11-2009 18:28:16

ATP nie podejmie działań przeciw Agassiemu

Szef Związku Tenisistów Zawodowych (ATP) Adam Helfant powiedział, że światowa centrala nie będzie w żaden sposób karała Andre Agassiego za to, że ten w 1997 roku kłamał w sprawie narkotyków.

[...]

Helfant miał odbyć bardzo otwartą rozmowę z Agassim. - Zapytałem sztab doradców, by prześwietlili informacje z 1997 roku. Agassi przyznał, ze miał wtedy pozytywny wynik badania antydopingowego i niestety potem kłamał. Gorsze od samego faktu jest jednak to, że nie chciał się z tym zmierzyć.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2009/ … agassiemu/

szeva · 07-12-2009 21:36:16

Szokująca autobiografia Andre Agassiego

Nienawiść do tenisa - to myśl przewodnia autobiografii jednego z najlepszych tenisistów w historii - Andre Agassiego. Czy Amerykanin był szczery?
"To prawdopodobnie najbardziej antysportowa książka, jaka powstała" - napisał o autobiografii Andre Agassiego New York Times. Agassi opisuje w niej, jak od dzieciństwa był zmuszany przez ojca do treningów. Urządzenie, z którego podawane były piłki (odbijał ich nawet 2500 dziennie), nazywał smokiem, który później śnił mu się po nocach. - Moje dzieciństwo to więzienie, moja młodość to sala tortur. Jest jak w koszarach, ciągła presja, mordercza rywalizacja, brak nadzoru ze strony dorosłych, powoli zamienialiśmy się w zwierzęta - tak opisuje słynną akademię tenisa Nicka Bolletteriego.

Co ciekawe, Agassi bardzo nie lubił wielu tenisistów. Pisze wprost o swojej nienawiści między innymi do Borisa Beckera czy Michaela Changa. Szokuje to, że Agassi przyznaje się do oszustw na korcie. W 1996 roku w półfinale Australian Open dał wygrać w półfinale Changowi, gdyż jak twierdzi, nie chciał zagrać w finale z Beckerem, którego nienawidził. Oszukiwał również poza kortem. Jego wizerunek, sposób ubierania były wymyślone na potrzeby reklamodawców. Podobnie było z fryzurą, która jak się okazuje, była sztuczna. Agassi przyznaje, że były pojedynki, w których bał się, że tunika mu się odklei.

Nie brakuje również wątku dotyczącego narkotyków. Marat Safin powiedział, że jego zdaniem Agassi powinien oddać wszystkie zdobyte tytuły. Z kolei Martina Navratilova przyznała, że czuje się zawiedziona. - Martino, dzięki Bogu pewnie ty nigdy nie brałaś narkotyków. Z przykrością muszę jednak stwierdzić, że się na nich nie znasz. Metamfetamina nie jest środkiem wspomagającym. Zapewniam, że wygrałabyś ze mną, gdybym był na prochach - pisał w swojej autobiografii Agassi.

ATP i WADA, mimo że potępiły postawę Agassiego, to nie wszczęły postępowania przeciwko niemu. Sam zawodnik przyznaje, że dopiero kiedy przestał brać narkotyki, udało mu się wydobyć z dołka. Niemałe znaczenie miała w jego życiu Steffi Graf, od 2001 roku żona Agassiego. Agassi podkreśla, że to dzięki niej doszło do zmiany w jego życiu. Z niemiecką tenisistką ma dwójkę dzieci
. Mieszkają w domu, w którym nie ma kortu tenisowego.

Recenzenci autobiografii podkreślają, że wiele wątków z życia Agassiego zostało przejaskrawionych, a wiele z tych, które były dla niego niekorzystne, zostało pominiętych. Tak jest między innymi w przypadku jego przyjaciela i menedżera Perry Rogersa, z którym nagle rozstał się kilka lat temu. To rozstanie miało duży wpływ na karierę Agassiego.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2009/ … agassiego/

DUN I LOVE · 03-01-2010 20:12:40

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Play … gazzi.aspx

Nie zakładam nowego tematu, tę ciekawostkę zamieszczę tutaj. Andre wiecznie żywy!

Serenity · 17-03-2010 19:25:28

Agassi przeprasza. "Posunąłem się za daleko"

Andre Agassi powiedział Rickowi Reilly z ESPN.com, że "posunął się za daleko" i przeprosił za naśmiewanie się z Pete'a Samprasa podczas niedawnego meczu charytatywnego przed turniejem Indian Wells.

- Posunąłem się za daleko. To było niestosowne. Noc była gorąca, wszyscy mieliśmy niezły ubaw. Próbowałem się wygłupiać, ale żart nie był udany. Później chciałem puścić to w niepamięć, ale Pete nie dał mi tego zrobić. Napisałem do Pete'a i zapytałem, czy mogę go osobiście przeprosić - powiedział Andre Agassi.

Kilka dni temu Roger Federer zorganizował kolejny mecz charytatywny dla ofiar trzęsienia ziemi na Haiti. W deblu zagrali przeciw sobie wielcy rywale sprzed lat i ci obecni - Pete Sampras z Rogerem Federerem i Rafael Nadal z Andre Agassim. Tenisiści mieli przy sobie mikrofony i publiczność zgromadzona na korcie oraz przed telewizorami słyszała dokładnie, co mówią zawodnicy.

W pewnym momencie Agassi zapytał, czy Pete musi być zawsze taki poważny. Sampras nie chcąc wyjść na sztywniaka imitował charakterystyczny dla Agassiego chód, stawiając drobne kroczki. Wówczas Agassi zapytany przez Samprasa "co on na to", wyjął kieszenie ze spodni i powiedział: "Nie mam żadnych pieniędzy, a nie przepraszam, mam dolara".

Agassi nawiązał w ten sposób do tego, co sam napisał w swojej biografii, w której stwierdził, że Sampras jest skąpy, bo dawał jednodolarowe napiwki. Ten w odpowiedzi wymierzył szybki serwis w głowę Agassiego... i prawie go trafił. - O mało nie zgasło mi światło. Było blisko - powiedział Agassi

- Później w szatni pojawiały się informacje, że wymienili między sobą kilka słów. Żaden nie pojawił się na pomeczowej konferencji prasowej - pisze Rick Reilly.

- Cholera - powiedział Roger Federer do Agassiego. - Wy to dopiero macie zaciekłą rywalizację - dodał.

- Żart nie udał się i przepraszam. Mam nadzieję, że mimo to ten wieczór wciąż był zadowalający - zakończył Andre Agassi.

Aż tak źle nie było, biorąc pod uwagę to, że uzbierano dla Haiti milion dolarów - podsumowuje Reilly.

http://www.eurosport.pl/tenis/atp-maste … tory.shtml

Art · 02-09-2010 12:50:47

Agassi Headlines Ballot For Hall Of Fame 2011 Induction

Andre Agassi, former World No. 1, eight-time Grand Slam champion, and one of the most remarkable athletes in history, has been nominated to receive the highest honour available in the sport of tennis, induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Agassi is the sole nominee in the Recent Player Category.

Joining Agassi on the ballot in the Master Player Category are Thelma Coyne Long, who dominated Australian tennis in the 1930s -1950s, and Christine Truman Janes, a British star of the 1950s and 1960s. Nominated in the Contributor Category are influential tennis promoter and administrator Mike Davies and Fern Lee “Peachy” Kellmeyer, who has played a vital role in the growth of women’s tennis.

Voting for the 2011 ballot will take place over the next few months, culminating with an announcement in early 2011 to reveal the Class of 2011 Inductees. The 2011 Induction Ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2011 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. The Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event.

Tickets for the tournament and Induction Ceremony will go on sale in October, with a pre-sale for International Tennis Hall of Fame Members beginning on October 13 at 10:00 a.m. and the General Public ticket sale beginning on October 26 at 10:00 a.m.

Since 1955, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has inducted 218 people representing 19 countries. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of tennis. The Hall of Fame offers an extensive museum that chronicles the history of the sport and honours the game’s greatest legends.

Surrounding the Museum are 13 historic grass tennis courts that date back to 1880 and are open to the public, which play host to the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour tournament, and the annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in July. The facility hosts numerous additional public events year-round.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … -Fame.aspx

Raddcik · 05-09-2010 15:17:09

Agassi goes commando to fight for honesty about an amazing career

After all the revelations in his book, the maverick American has shocked fans with a shorts story, writes Paul Newman in New York.

It is four years since Andre Agassi brought down the curtain on his career but the 40-year-old Las Vegan can still light up a stage.

Play was in full swing on Thursday night here at the US Open – where Agassi began his career in 1986 with defeat to Jeremy Bates and ended it 20 years later – when the eight-times Grand Slam champion was given a standing ovation before taking his seat at Manhattan's Town Hall.

Hundreds of fans had paid up to $150 (about £97) to spend "A Special Evening with Andre Agassi". For the next two hours they listened as he was interviewed about his autobiography, which was published at the end of last year.

They do not do understatement in these parts. Rick Reilly, the interviewer, described Open as "the Sistine Chapel of sports books", while Agassi said J R Moehringer, his ghost, would go down as "one of the greatest writers of our time".

It is certainly a tome memorable for its honesty. Agassi describes his use of crystal meth, his subsequent lies after a positive drugs test, his "tanking" of matches, his failed marriage to Brooke Shields and his hatred of tennis. He even describes how he spent several years wearing a wig on court.

Reilly's opening question, nevertheless, went straight to another revelation: from the 1999 French Open onwards Agassi did not wear anything under his shorts. "I got to the locker room and realised I'd forgotten my underwear," Agassi told the audience. "What can a man do? I just commandoed it. After that it was a case of 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. It actually feels good." He added: "I don't want to unsettle you, but I'm actually freebagging tonight."

Agassi's father, an Armenian who grew up in Iran before emigrating to America despite not speaking a word of English, was obsessed by an ambition to make his son a tennis champion. From an early age Agassi was forced to practise for hours as "the dragon", his name for the ball-feeding machine installed in their backyard, forced him to hit up to 4,000 shots a day.

"Dad used to introduce me as the future No 1 player in the world," Agassi said "We had two rules in the house: you will brush your teeth and play tennis – but not in that order."

Agassi said his father had not read the book and had no intention of doing so. Agassi phoned him, concerned at what his reaction might be to the reviews and wanting to point out that it was "a loving portrait" of his father. Agassi recalled: "He said: 'I'm 80 years old. What do I care? If I could do it all again I would do the same, except I wouldn't have you playing tennis. You'd play baseball or golf instead: you play longer and you can make more money.'"

Some reaction to the book has been unfavourable. Martina Navratilova suggested some of Agassi's titles should be taken away because he should have been suspended at the time he won them. He was reluctant to get into a slanging match. "It bothered me what she said. She was wrong. But my book is about forgiveness. I try not to react to what was said."

Asked what crystal meth did for him, Agassi said: "I had a lot of energy. I was like Speedy Gonzalez. I didn't know what to do with it. I would do lots of cleaning. I would lock myself in the house and do all this cleaning and make sure the laundry was perfect. I was like Martha Stewart on steroids."

Agassi revealed that he had not spoken to Shields since the book's publication. He said she had never met Steffi Graf, his current wife, though the actress had called their home on one occasion. "Steffi picked up the phone," Agassi said. "I did what anyone would do and changed our number."

Pete Sampras was Agassi's constant rival and is not spared in the book, particularly in relation to his alleged meanness. "He was fundamentally my antithesis," Agassi said. Asked by Reilly what Sampras brought out in him and whether he liked him or not, Agassi replied: "The worst in me – and no."

The evening wound up with a brief question-and-answer session, though for some it was simply a chance to acknowledge their hero. "Thank you for your honesty," one questioner said to loud applause. "People say you diminished the game. I say you elevated the game."

Afterwards Linda Peters, a fan from Florida, waited patiently for Agassi to sign her copy of his book. "I'm the same age as Andre and feel like I've grown up with him," she said. "I loved what he did for the game and what he still does for it. I'm not delighted about the drug-taking and the tanking of matches. I would argue with him about them, but I commend him for being so open."

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tenn … 69943.html

Art · 06-09-2010 13:00:23

Andre Agassi finds forgiveness as disgraced star's snort-and-tell show takes centre stage

These were Broadway prices, with tickets costing up to $150, but on Broadway the audience is not given the opportunity to tell someone on stage that they forgive them for snorting crystal meth off coffee tables.

A few blocks from Manhattan’s theatre district, at the Town Hall, An Evening with Andre Agassi was one half talk-show discussion, one half emoting from the stalls about how they have taken inspiration from his book Open, in which he admitted to using an addictive stimulant more commonly associated with the American under-class than with former Wimbledon champions.

The cycle of American celebrity scandal usually works like this: the shock, the condemnation, the mock outrage, the chat shows, the book tour and then the forgiveness. In midtown Manhattan, it appeared as though we have reached the absolution stage for Agassi.

Maybe Agassi was not after absolution from New York City; he got it anyway. For what it would have cost to have had a decent evening-session seat in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, for a double-bill under the lights at the US Open, several hundred of the American tennis public came to show Agassi that they still care about the man who supposedly hated tennis with “a dark and secret passion”.

This is the first US Open since Agassi published his snort-and-tell memoir, which contained the disclosure that he would binge on crystal meth. Then, after failing a dope test, he wrote a letter to the ATP Tour claiming that he had unwittingly taken the drug after sipping his assistant’s spiked soda. The ATP’s drugs panel believed him and Agassi escaped suspension.

As well as a few thousand dollars for his school for disadvantaged children in Sin City, the sense was that the Las Vegan was after some sort of reaffirmation of his relationship with his public. A man in the third row got to his feet to say: “Thank you for your honesty – to your detractors, who say you have diminished the game, I say that you have enhanced it.”

Someone at the front wanted Agassi to know that he had been “a great motivation for my life”. Still, if Agassi cannot find compassion in front of a crowd of young New Yorkers who have paid big bucks to be there, he will not find it anywhere.

Take Agassi away from metropolitan America, out to New Jersey, or to any small-town tennis club across the States, and his stories of drug-taking and lying are unlikely to be met with anything approaching approval. It should also be noted that he could not fill the hall, that there were a lot of empty red seats. With tickets starting at $55 (£35), showing your sympathetic side did not come cheaply.

There was a standing ovation when Agassi arrived, and another one when he left, and in between there was whooping at the funny bits, as he recalled the “exhausting” process of covering up his baldness by having a mullet toupee weaved into his existing hair, or when he said that the three-day crystal meth binges made him feel like “Martha Stewart on steroids” as when he was high all he wanted to do was to vacuum his carpets and scour the bathtub.

There was applause when he dipped into what sounded like therapy-speak – “the three years I spent writing the book was my therapy” – and he wondered aloud whether you could be living a lie if you don’t know yourself.

Inevitably, his book brought criticism from within tennis, with Rafael Nadal and Martina Navratilova among those who attacked Agassi.

“Did I know that I was going to get heat for it? Absolutely,” said Agassi. “The people who reacted to it without reading it, I stick that in one bucket, as I wanted people to respond to it. My book is about forgiveness.”

Perhaps Agassi’s drug use has cost him money, but he does not care. “I have everything I need in my life – I don’t need endorsements and speeches. Whatever it has cost me, I’m not interested in people who aren’t interested in the full story of my life, the full body,” said Agassi.

After the ovation, the audience moved to the foyer to have their books signed. Agassi knows that Pete Sampras does not like his portrayal in Open, his father Mike has not even bothered to read it, and he does not know what his first wife, Brooke Shields, thinks of the passages about their marriage. This evening just off Broadway showed what affection there still is for him.

Agassi backs Murray...

Andre Agassi has spoken of his admiration for Andy Murray’s game. Speaking before Murray was due to play Jamaica’s Dustin Brown in the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday for a place in the third round of the US Open, Agassi said that if he was playing like the Scot in this year’s tournament, he would finish the fortnight holding up the trophy.

“If you gave me his game, I would win the Open this year,” Agassi, who was Murray’s boyhood hero, said of the 2008 beaten finalist. “He brings so much to the table. But he still has to get over the line and do this.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis … stage.html

Sydney · 21-01-2011 16:01:24

Agassi To Be Inducted To International Tennis Hall Of Fame

Andre Agassi, a former world No. 1 and one of the most revered athletes in the world, will receive the highest honor available in the sport of tennis, induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Buy Tickets

The announcement of Agassi's induction was made today at Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, the public charter school that Agassi founded in 2001 in Las Vegas' most at risk community. The students at Agassi Prep, who range from kindergarten through Grade 12, joined Agassi in a pep rally style event to celebrate his induction.

"I'm truly honored to be recognized alongside the greatest players of tennis," said Agassi. "My tennis career afforded me the opportunity to make a difference in other people's lives and it was truly special to share this exciting moment with the students of Agassi Prep."

Agassi is the sole 2011 inductee in the Recent Player category. Additional 2011 inductees in other categories will be announced at a later date.

"During his 20-year career Andre Agassi recorded some of the most incredible achievements in tennis, including Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and Davis Cup success. The energy and excitement that he personally brought to the game inspired generations of players. Today, he continues to inspire people around the world as a dedicated philanthropist, and, therefore, it was only appropriate that we share this news at the school where so many young people benefit from his generosity," said Christopher E. Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. "Andre is a true champion of the game, and we are delighted to honor him for his contributions and achievements with induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame."

Agassi's Induction Ceremony will be held on July 9, 2011 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, R.I. The Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event.

Tickets for the Induction Ceremony and its surrounding events are limited. Box seats, custom sponsorship and hospitality packages are available. In addition, the International Tennis Hall of Fame is developing additional events and programs to complement the Induction Ceremony and allow as many fans as possible to be part of the celebration. Individuals looking for additional information should call 866-914-FAME (3263) and/or visit www.tennisfame.com.

Agassi, 40, of Las Vegas, Nevada, held the No. 1 singles ranking for 101 weeks, and is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, as well as one of the premier athletes of his generation. Agassi achieved a career singles record of 870-274, winning 60 titles, including four at the Australian Open, two at the US Open, and one victory each at the French Open and Wimbledon. Within his 60 tournament wins, he captured 17 Masters 1000 events. In 1990, he won the season-ending ATP World Tour Championships. Agassi earned a Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympics, by taking the Singles title in Atlanta. A member of two winning American Davis Cup teams (1990, 1992), Agassi achieved a career record of 30-6 in Davis Cup play for the United States. Agassi's passionate performances, non-traditional apparel and style, and extraordinary skill made him one of the most iconic athletes in the history of the game. He is credited for reviving the popularity of the game and inspiring a generation of tennis players.

In 1999, Agassi came back from two sets down against Andrei Medvedev in the final to win the French Open, putting him in the elite company of Rod Laver, Don Budge, Fred Perry and Roy Emerson, as the only five men at that time to have achieved a Career Grand Slam. (Roger Federer later joined them with his victory at the French Open in 2009.) This win also made him the first male player in history to have won all four Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces (clay, grass, and hard courts), a tribute to his adaptability.

Agassi turned professional in 1986 at the age of 16, and made his way into the top-100 in his first professional year, finishing the season ranked No. 91. He won his first Tour-level title in 1987, and closed out his second professional season ranked No. 25 in the world. In 1988 his year-end ranking was No. 3 and he surpassed $2 million (US) in career prize money, after playing in just 43 career tournaments - the fastest anyone in history had reached that mark. Agassi enjoyed a long, successful career through 2006, during which time he earned more than $30 million (US) in prize-money, fourth only to Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal to date.

In June 2003, at the age of 33, Agassi became the oldest player to hold the No. 1 singles ranking, a position that he held onto for twelve weeks. Agassi retired from professional tennis on September 3, 2006, after losing in the third round of the US Open. He delivered a memorable retirement speech and was honored with an eight-minute standing ovation from the crowd.

During his career and into retirement, Agassi has been a dedicated philanthropist. In 1994, he founded the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education, which is devoted to helping at-risk youth in Las Vegas and its surrounding areas. Since the inception of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education $150 million dollars has been raised to benefit the mission of the Foundation, including $92 million from the Grand Slam for Children fundraising event. In 1995 and 2001, Agassi was awarded the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award, which is presented annually to one ATP World Tour player in acknowledgement of outstanding humanitarian contributions.

In 1997, he established the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas, which supports 2,000 children throughout the year and boasts a world class junior tennis team and basketball program. Additionally, the club utilizes a rigorous system that encourages a mix of academics and athletics.

In 2001, Agassi opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free public charter school in Las Vegas' most at-risk neighborhood. The school utilizes advanced technology, smaller class sizes and extended school hours, among other tactics, to combat lowered academic expectations and to foster a sense of hope among this community's most challenged children. In 2009 and 2010, the school graduated a 100% acceptance rate for higher education.

In 2007, Agassi joined forces with Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr. to found Athletes for Hope. The non-profit organization helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire the sports community, especially athletes, to make a difference and to inspire others to pass their passion for philanthropy from generation to generation.

Agassi is married to retired professional tennis player and 2004 Hall of Famer Stefanie Graf, and they reside in Las Vegas with their two children.

Induction Process
International Tennis Hall of Fame President and 1970 Hall of Famer Tony Trabert serves as Chair of the Enshrinee Nominating Committee. Election to the Hall of Fame is voted on by a panel of more than 100 tennis media professionals around the world and a 75% favorable vote is required for induction.

Inductees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame are elected in the categories of Recent Player, Master Player and Contributor. To be eligible for Hall of Fame induction in the Recent Player category, the individual must have been active as a competitor in the sport within the last 20 years prior to consideration; must not have been a significant factor on the ATP or WTA Tour within five years prior to induction; and must hold a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest international level. Consideration is given to integrity, sportsmanship and character.

Located in Newport, Rhode Island, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of tennis. Since 1955, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has inducted 218 people representing 19 countries.

To learn more about Andre Agassi's induction or about the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, please visit www.tennisfame.com or call 401-849-3990.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … ction.aspx

jaccol55 · 28-02-2011 23:56:06

Agassi on Sampras: 'We’ve straightened it out'

NEW YORK (AP)—Forgive the tennis fans at Madison Square Garden if they’re secretly hoping to see Pete Sampras fire a serve at Andre Agassi’s head.

The two exhibition matches Monday night offer more than the chance to see four greats with 37 combined Grand Slam titles. For guys who are long retired, there’s still an edge in the air when the Sampras-Agassi and John McEnroe-Ivan Lendl rivalries are renewed.

The four traded good-natured barbs at a news conference Monday morning, often about their past tensions.

Just under a year ago, Agassi and Sampras faced each other in what was supposed to be a friendly match for charity. Wearing a microphone, Agassi mocked Sampras for being stingy, a claim he had made in his book. Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi to duck.

Asked about the state of his relationship with Sampras, Agassi replied, “Strictly platonic.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said about me in two years,” Sampras quipped.

“We’ve straightened it out,” Agassi said. “Like I’ve said 150 times, it was a complete mistake on my part. ‘Hit for Haiti’ raised a lot of money; we did a lot of good things. But we unfortunately had a microphone on our mouths, and I was talking a lot. One thing wasn’t good.”

Added Sampras: “In my eyes, it’s over. It’s unfortunate what happened. Andre apologized. It’s just one of those things that sort of got blown out of proportion over the last six months. We’re still here. He’s a rival and a friend.”

At which point Lendl interjected, “That wasn’t Andre you were talking about in the back?”

McEnroe and Lendl will play one set, first to eight games, in the event, called the BNP Paribas Showdown. Sampras and Agassi will play best of three sets.

The two younger players joked they were sitting between Lendl and McEnroe on the podium to keep the old adversaries as far apart as possible. Lendl and McEnroe faced each other in a record 20 ATP Tour finals, with McEnroe holding an edge by the slimmest of margins: 11-9.

“It would be an understatement to say I was pumped up to have this chance,” McEnroe said of playing in his native New York. “I never thought I’d have the chance to play Ivan, No. 1, because he didn’t play a match for 16 years—faking that back injury.”

When McEnroe noted Lendl’s role in promoting the annual tennis exhibitions at the Garden, Lendl said, “If you get what you perceive as a bad call, those linespeople work for me, too.”

Will there be challenges? McEnroe asked.

“You appeal to me,” Lendl deadpanned. “It will be a quick call.”

http://tennis.com/articles/templates/ne … &zoneid=25

Video Tennis Talk: An Interview with Andre Agassi

Before he plays Pete Sampras tonight in the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden, Andre Agassi sat down with our Steve Tignor to discuss the match, today's men's game and his most memorable shot.

TENNIS.com: So you must be excited to be back at the Garden?

Andre Agassi: Very excited. I haven’t played in the Garden since 1989. The Garden for me was bigger than life when I was a teenager, and to go back there now just means the world because I have much more of an ability to take it all in.

TENNIS.com: So not since the Masters in 1989?

Agassi: Yeah, not since the Masters. And plus too, you know, this is a place that both Pete [Sampras] and I both said our goodbyes to, New York. So to play at the Garden seems really fitting.

TENNIS.com: When’s the last time you played a singles match against Pete?

Agassi: So we played over the summer, we played in Puerto Rico and Bogota.

TENNIS.com: Anything different about the matches?

Agassi: No; one of them he beat me pretty good. But the other one was very competitive and it was fun. Listen, we’ve straightened out our own personal history and we’re fine together.

TENNIS.com: Is his serve the toughest shot you ever faced?

Agassi: It was, because of the way he defended it. You know, it’s one thing to say somebody has a great serve and a good hold game, or a good serve and a great hold game; Pete had a great serve and a great hold game. So he defended his serve well. I have played people with bigger serves and better serves, but they’re a different cat when you get that ball back. Pete had a way of just snuffing out so many points even if his serve wasn’t the exact way the point ended. So he had one of the best, if not the best, hold game I ever competed against.

TENNIS.com: You retired five years ago. When you watch the game now, is there anything you notice that’s different from when you stopped playing?

Agassi: It’s better. Considerably better. The thing that’s really changed the game most dramatically has been the strings. Because now you get rewarded for really swinging out at every ball. Then you combine that with just the athletes getting better, you combine that with what [Rafael] Nadal and [Roger] Federer have done to the game, I just think it’s a different class now, without question.

TENNIS.com: What about this season so far, any thoughts on Federer, [Novak] Djokovic, where they are; Federer’s future, maybe?

Agassi: Listen, I’m out of the business now of predicting when Federer’s on a decline because he’s—

TENNIS.com: Well, not on a decline, but what have you thought so far this year, just any thoughts watching?

Agassi: Well, he looked sharp as heck all the way through the Australian Open until he ran into the buzzsaw. But I mean Djokovic, the way he was playing and moving—that guy has gotten it together; he looks to me like, if he can keep it straight between the ears, he’s going to be hard to stop this year.

It’s nice to have del Potro back; I think he left at a real disappointing time, he was starting to impose himself. I think he would have changed last year for Nadal and Federer, considerably; more specifically Nadal. Del Potro just was a man amongst boys at the [2009] U.S. Open, then he just got taken out with his injury and that’s unfortunate. So it’s nice to have him back.

I think you’re going to see more winners of Slams this year. I think the door’s starting to open. For a while Nadal and Federer left nothing for anybody else, and now we have a few that are sneaking in, one or two; let’s see if it can continue.

The game is at an incredible state. We’re watching two of the best ever, if not the greatest two players ever, playing in their prime, against each other, on the biggest stages. Two completely opposite kinds of players. So from a tennis enthusiast’s standpoint, I’ve loved the state of it.

TENNIS.com: One more question: Is there a shot in your career that you remember more than any other, if you had to think of one? A single shot in a match.

Agassi: I remember it because they show it a lot, so it sticks in your mind: That shot when I was playing [Alex] Corretja at the U.S. Open, where the guy hits a lob over my shoulder and Corretja comes to the net, and he thought I was going to let it drop and play something else, and I just literally took it over my left shoulder and I hit it like a bullet. He just didn’t have time to react for it.

http://tennis.com/articles/templates/fe … 6&zoneid=9

Serenity · 17-05-2011 12:46:49

Rok 1987

#1 Itaparica
R32 Jose Daher (BRA) 5-7, 6-0, 6-3
R16 Jaime Yzaga (PER) 6-3, 6-4
Q Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-1, 6-3
S Martin Jaite (ARG) 6-2, 7-5
W Luiz Mattar (BRA) 7-6, 6-2

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:02:50

Rok 1988

#2 Memphis
R64 Bye
R32 John Ross (USA) 6-4, 6-4
R16 Paul Annacone (USA) 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
Q David Pate (USA) 6-4, 6-2
S Kevin Curren (USA) 6-1, 6-4
W Mikael Pernfors (SWE) 6-4, 6-4, 7-5

#3 Charleston
R32 Jimmy Brown (USA) 6-1, 6-4
R16 Carlos Di Laura (PER) 6-2, 6-2
Q Richey Reneberg (USA) 6-1, 6-3
S Lawson Duncan (USA) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
W Jimmy Arias (USA) 6-2, 6-2

#4 Forest Hills
R64 Andreas Maurer (GER) 6-0, 6-1
R32 Marc Flur (USA) 6-2, 6-4
R16 Michael Chang (USA) 6-2, 6-4
Q Alberto Tous (ESP) 6-2, 6-2
S Aaron Krickstein (USA) 6-3, 6-3
W Slobodan Zivojinovic (YUG) 7-5, 7-6, 7-5

#5 Stuttgart Outdoor
R64 Bye
R32 Ricki Osterthun (GER) 6-3, 7-5
R16 Tomas Smid (CZE) 7-5, 6-2
Q    Jonas Svensson (SWE) 7-5, 6-1
S    Henri Leconte (FRA) 7-5, 7-5
W    Andres Gomez (ECU) 6-4, 6-2

#6 Stratton Mountain
R64 Paul Wekesa (KEN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
R32 Greg Holmes (USA) 6-4, 6-2
R16 Jim Pugh (USA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Q    Jay Berger (USA) 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
S    Dan Goldie (USA) 6-3, 6-3
W    Paul Annacone (USA) 6-2, 6-4

#7 Livingston
R32 Eduardo Velez (MEX) 6-4 6-4
R16 Libor Pimek (BEL) 6-4 6-3
Q Matt Anger (USA) 6-4, 6-1
S    Yahiya Doumbia (SEN) 6-4, 6-4
W Jeff Tarango (USA) 6-2, 6-4

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:06:05

Rok 1989

#8 Orlando
R32 Nicolas Pereira (VEN) 6-3, 6-3
R16 Todd Witsken (USA) 7-5, 6-3
Q David Wheaton (USA) 6-1, 6-4
S Jaime Yzaga (PER) 6-1, 6-1
W Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-2, 6-1

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:20:00

Rok 1990

#9 San Francisco
R32 Ramesh Krishnan (IND) 6-2, 6-7, 6-0
R16 Dan Goldie (USA) 2-6, 6-0, 6-1
Q Paul Annacone (USA) 6-4, 6-2
S Jim Grabb (USA) 6-2, 6-2
W Todd Witsken (USA) 6-1, 6-3

#10 ATP Masters Series Miami
R128 Bye
R64 Kelly Jones (USA) 6-1, 6-2
R32 Jan Gunnarsson (SWE) 6-1, 6-3
R16 Andres Gomez (ECU) 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
Q Jim Courier (USA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
S Jay Berger (USA) 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
W Stefan Edberg (SWE) 6-1, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2

#11 Washington
R64 Bye
R32 Brad Pearce (USA) 7-6, 6-3
R16 Gilad Bloom (ISR) 6-1, 7-5
Q Richey Reneberg (USA) 7-6, 6-0
S Michael Chang (USA) 6-3, 6-1
W Jim Grabb (USA) 6-1, 6-4

#12 ATP Tour World Championship, Frankfurt
RR Pete Sampras (USA) 6-4, 6-2
RR Stefan Edberg (SWE) 6-7, 6-4, 6-7
RR Emilio Sanchez (ESP) 6-0, 6-3
S Boris Becker (GER) 6-2, 6-4
W Stefan Edberg (SWE) 5-7, 7-6, 7-5, 6-2

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:27:03

Rok 1991

#13 Orlando
R32 Brian Garrow (USA) 6-2, 6-4
R16 David Engel (SWE) 6-4, 6-4
Q Chuck Adams (USA) 6-4, 7-6(4)
S MaliVai Washington (USA) 6-4, 7-6(6)
W Derrick Rostagno (USA) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

#14 Washington
R64 Bye
R32 David Pate (USA) 6-4, 6-3
R16 Chuck Adams (USA) 6-2, 6-2
Q Johan Carlsson (SWE) 7-5, 6-2
S Jaime Yzaga (PER) 6-3, 6-2
W Petr Korda (CZE) 6-3, 6-4

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:34:54

Rok 1992

#15 Atlanta
R32 Mikael Pernfors (SWE) 7-5, 6-2
R16 Horacio De La Pena (ARG) 6-3, 6-3
Q Jacco Eltingh (NED) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
S Pablo Arraya (PER) 6-4, 6-3
W Pete Sampras (USA) 7-5, 6-4

#16 Wimbledon
R128 Andrei Chesnokov (RUS) 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, 7-5
R64 Eduardo Masso (BEL) 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
R32 Derrick Rostagno (USA) 6-3, 7-6(5), 7-5
R16 Christian Saceanu (GER) 7-6(1), 6-1, 7-6(0)
Q Boris Becker (GER) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
S John McEnroe (USA) 6-4, 6-2, 6-3
W Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4

#17 ATP Masters Series Canada
R64 Bye
R32 Daniel Nestor (CAN) 6-1, 6-3
R16 Greg Rusedski (GBR) 6-4, 6-1
Q Amos Mansdorf (ISR) 6-2, 6-4
S MaliVai Washington (USA) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1
W Ivan Lendl (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:41:39

Rok 1993

#18 San Francisco
R32 Jonathan Stark (USA) 6-2, 7-6(7)
R16 Patrick McEnroe (USA) 6-0, 6-2
Q Marcos Ondruska (RSA) 6-0, 6-4
S Jeff Tarango (USA) 6-3, 6-3
W Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-2

#19 Scottsdale
R32 Sandon Stolle (AUS) 6-0, 6-0
R16 Keith Evans (USA) 6-1, 6-3
Q Emilio Sanchez (ESP) 6-1, 6-1
S Mark Woodforde (AUS) 6-2, 6-3
W Marcos Ondruska (RSA) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Serenity · 17-05-2011 13:53:11

Rok 1994

#20 Scottsdale
R32 Mark Keil (USA) 6-1, 6-2
R16 Libor Nemecek (CZE) 6-4, 6-3
Q Brad Gilbert (USA) 6-1, 6-2
S Karsten Braasch (GER) 6-1, 6-4
W Luiz Mattar (BRA) 6-4, 6-3

#21 ATP Masters Series Canada
R64 Bye
R32 Jakob Hlasek (SUI) 6-1, 6-1
R16 David Wheaton (USA) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(7)
Q Sergi Bruguera (ESP) 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-1
S Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 6-4, 7-5
W Jason Stoltenberg (AUS) 6-4, 6-4

#22 US Open
R128 Robert Eriksson (SWE) 6-3, 6-2, 6-0
R64 Guy Forget (FRA) 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2
R32 Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 7-5, 6-1, 7-5
R16 Michael Chang (USA) 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
Q Thomas Muster (AUT) 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-0
S Todd Martin (USA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
W Michael Stich (GER) 6-1, 7-6(5), 7-5

#23 Vienna
R32 Chuck Adams (USA) 6-4, 6-2
R16 Mark Woodforde (AUS) 6-0, 6-0
Q Andrea Gaudenzi (ITA) 6-3, 6-1
S Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) 6-4, 6-4
W Michael Stich (GER) 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

#24 ATP Masters Series Paris
R64 Bye
R32 Jason Stoltenberg (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
R16 Todd Martin (USA) 6-2, 7-5
Q Pete Sampras (USA) 7-6(6), 7-5
S Sergi Bruguera (ESP) 6-4, 6-4
W Marc Rosset (SUI) 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

Ostatnio edytowany przez Serenity (17-05-2011 13:53:32)

Serenity · 17-05-2011 14:18:33

Rok 1995

#25 Australian Open
R128 Grant Stafford (RSA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
R64 Jerome Golmard (FRA) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
R32 Greg Rusedski (GBR) 6-2, 6-4, 6-2
R16 Patrick Rafter (AUS) 6-3, 6-4, 6-0
Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) 6-2, 7-5, 6-0
S Aaron Krickstein (USA) 6-4, 6-4, 3-0 RET
W Pete Sampras (USA) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6), 6-4

#26 San Jose
R32 Fernando Meligeni (BRA) 6-0, 6-2
R16 Marc-Kevin Goellner (GER) 7-6(4), 6-2
Q Brian MacPhie (USA) 6-4, 6-3
S MaliVai Washington (USA) 6-4, 6-2
W Michael Chang (USA) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

#27 ATP Masters Series Miami
R128 Bye
R64 Shuzo Matsuoka (JPN) 6-2, 6-4
R32 Tommy Ho (USA) 6-0, 6-2
R16 MaliVai Washington (USA) 6-3, 6-4
Q Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 6-2, 6-4
S Magnus Larsson (SWE) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(1)
W Pete Sampras (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3)

Po tym turnieju, Agassi został po raz pierwszy w karierze liderem rankingu światowego.

#28 Washington
R64 Bye
R32 Rodolphe Gilbert (FRA) 6-2, 6-2
R16 Michael Joyce (USA) 6-2, 6-2
Q Mauricio Hadad (COL) 6-3, 6-4
S Todd Martin (USA) 6-4, 7-6
W Stefan Edberg (SWE) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5

#29 ATP Masters Series Canada
R64 Bye
R32 Jeff Tarango (USA) 6-3, 6-4
R16 Daniel Vacek (CZE) 6-4, 6-2
Q MaliVai Washington (USA) 7-6(5), 6-3
S Mats Wilander (SWE) 6-2, 6-0
W Pete Sampras (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3

#30 ATP Masters Series Cincinnati
R64 Bye
R32 Daniel Vacek (CZE) 7-6(5), 6-1
R16 Alberto Berasategui (ESP) 6-0, 0-6, 6-2
Q Renzo Furlan (ITA) 6-3, 6-4
S Thomas Enqvist (SWE) 6-4, 6-2
W Michael Chang (USA) 7-5, 6-2

#31 New Haven
R64 Bye
R32 Fernando Meligeni (BRA) 6-4, 7-5
R16 Patrick Rafter (AUS) 6-2, 6-4
Q Sergi Bruguera (ESP) 6-4, 6-1
S Mats Wilander (SWE) 6-3, 6-3
W Richard Krajicek (NED) 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-3

Serenity · 17-05-2011 14:28:01

Rok 1996

#32 ATP Masters Series Miami
R128 Bye
R64 Bernd Karbacher (GER) 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4)
R32 Jean-Philippe Fleurian (FRA) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
R16 Sebastien Lareau (CAN) 6-4, 6-4
Q Michael Joyce (USA) 6-4, 6-1
S Arnaud Boetsch (FRA) 6-4, 6-3
W Goran Ivanisevic (CRO) 3-0 RET

#33 IO Atlanta
R64 Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) 7-6, 7-6
R32 Karol Kucera (SVK) 6-4, 6-4
R16 Andrea Gaudenzi (ITA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Q Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5
S Leander Paes (IND) 7-6, 6-3
W Sergi Bruguera (ESP) 6-2, 6-3, 6-1

#34 ATP Masters Series Cincinnati
R64 Bye
R32 Magnus Larsson (SWE) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
R16 Alex O'Brien (USA) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0
Q Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-3
S Thomas Muster (AUT) 6-4, 6-1
W Michael Chang (USA) 7-6(4), 6-4

Reszta będzie wieczorem.

Ostatnio edytowany przez Serenity (17-05-2011 14:29:43)

Serenity · 17-05-2011 17:26:44

Rok 1998

#35 San Jose
R32 Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-2, 6-2
R16 Gustavo Kuerten (BRA) 6-3, 6-1
Q Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 7-5, 7-6(7)
S Michael Chang (USA) 6-4, 7-6(4)
W Pete Sampras (USA) 6-2, 6-4

#36 Scottsdale
R32 Albert Portas (ESP) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
R16 Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 7-5, 6-1
Q Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 6-3, 7-6(5)
S Tommy Haas (GER) 6-2, 6-1
W Jason Stoltenberg (AUS) 6-4, 7-6(3)

#37 Washington
R64 Bye
R32 David Wheaton (USA) 6-4, 6-2
R16 Christophe Van Garsse (BEL) 6-3, 6-4
Q Sebastien Lareau (CAN) 6-1, 6-2
S Wayne Ferreira (RSA) 6-1, 6-0
W Scott Draper (AUS) 6-2, 6-0

#38 Los Angeles
R32 Bob Bryan (USA) 6-4, 6-3
R16 Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 6-4, 6-4
Q Sandon Stolle (AUS) 7-6(2), 6-2
S Justin Gimelstob (USA) 6-0, 7-6(2)
W Tim Henman (GBR) 6-4, 6-4

#39 Ostrava
R32 Kenneth Carlsen (DEN) 6-4, 6-4
R16 Magnus Norman (SWE) 6-2, 7-5
Q Thomas Johansson (SWE) 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4
S Wayne Black (ZIM) 7-6(2), 6-3
W Jan Kroslak (SVK) 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Ogłoszenie

#41 23-11-2009 18:28:16

Re: Andre Agassi

#42 07-12-2009 21:36:16

Re: Andre Agassi

#43 03-01-2010 20:12:40

Re: Andre Agassi

#44 17-03-2010 19:25:28

Re: Andre Agassi

#45 02-09-2010 12:50:47

Re: Andre Agassi

#46 05-09-2010 15:17:09

Re: Andre Agassi

#47 06-09-2010 13:00:23

Re: Andre Agassi

#48 21-01-2011 16:01:24

Re: Andre Agassi

#49 28-02-2011 23:56:06

Re: Andre Agassi

#50 17-05-2011 12:46:49

Re: Andre Agassi

#51 17-05-2011 13:02:50

Re: Andre Agassi

#52 17-05-2011 13:06:05

Re: Andre Agassi

#53 17-05-2011 13:20:00

Re: Andre Agassi

#54 17-05-2011 13:27:03

Re: Andre Agassi

#55 17-05-2011 13:34:54

Re: Andre Agassi

#56 17-05-2011 13:41:39

Re: Andre Agassi

#57 17-05-2011 13:53:11

Re: Andre Agassi

#58 17-05-2011 14:18:33

Re: Andre Agassi

#59 17-05-2011 14:28:01

Re: Andre Agassi

#60 17-05-2011 17:26:44

Re: Andre Agassi

Stopka forum