AGASSI IS MAGNIFIQUE; HIS 0-2 RALLY MAKES HIM ONLY FIFTH MALE TO COMPLETE CAREER GRAND SLAM.Byline: Charles Bricker South Florida Sun-Sentinel The South Florida Sun-Sentinel, owned by the Tribune Company, is the main daily newspaper of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and all of Broward County. Its main competitor in this area is the Miami Herald, out of neighboring Miami-Dade County to the south. The racket dropped from Andre Agassi's hand as if his fingers had gone numb. He didn't know where to go with his emotions, so he followed his impulses. Somewhere, competing for space in that fertile brain, was the relief of having come from two sets down Sunday to win and also the historical significance of this stirring victory in the final of the French Open. In two hours and 55 minutes of gripping, brilliant tennis, Agassi had come from near dead to become only the fifth player in the history of men's tennis to win a title at all four Grand Slams and the first to do it on three different surfaces - hardcourt, grass and clay. When his hook serve forced Andrei Medvedev into a final error on match point, Agassi looked first to the players box, where his long-time friend, Gil Reyes Gilberto Reyes (born February 19, 1981 in Lawrence, Massachusetts) is a professional boxer. Reyes, whose nickname is "Sugar", fights out of Miami, Florida. He has been featured numerous times on ESPN2 and Telemundo. , was thumping his fist at his heart. And there was coach Brad Gilbert Brad Gilbert (born August 9, 1961) is an American tennis coach, a television tennis commentator, and former professional tennis player. His career-high singles ranking was World # 4, which he reached in January 1990. Gilbert was ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. , smiling from under his baseball cap, marveling at the Frankenstein's monster Frankenstein’s monster living man created by a physiology student from body parts. [Br. Lit.: Mary Shelley Frankenstein] See : Creation Frankenstein’s monster ugly monster. [Br. Lit. he had helped rescue from the tennis rubbish heap five years ago. Then Agassi turned to find his vanquished French Open opponent, who had come around to his side of the net. They embraced. What a teary moment of great sportsmanship it was. And Agassi went to the other side of the court and bowed in every direction to the 16,000 on the Court Centrale, blowing kisses and thinking who knows what after this incredible comeback in the most important match of his 13-year career. ``Greatest feeling I've ever had on a tennis court,'' Agassi said after whipping Medvedev 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. It was only the second time a French Open winner had come from two sets down to win in the Open era. Only Ivan Lendl Noun 1. Ivan Lendl - United States tennis player (born in Czechoslovakia) who won several singles championships; in 1992 he became a United States citizen (born in 1960) Lendl had done it, in 1984, against John McEnroe John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. (born February 16, 1959 in Wiesbaden, Germany) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. McEnroe won seven Grand Slam singles titles — three at Wimbledon and four at the U.S. . Things were pressing in so quickly on Agassi. Was he now better than Pete Sampras Peter “Pete” Sampras (born 12 August 1971), is a former World No. 1 tennis player from the United States. During his 15-year career he won a record 14 Grand Slam men's singles titles in 52 appearances. Sampras finished as No. , who has won 15 more titles, seven more Slams, been No. 1 forever but never won the French? The 29-year-old former ``image is everything'' kid from Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. wasn't sure what to say, except that this run is not over. ``I have a lot more tennis in me,'' he said. ``It's been 25 years or so since somebody has won the French and Wimbledon in the same year. That would be something.'' Wimbledon begins in two weeks. Agassi, No. 13, was the only seeded player Noun 1. seeded player - one of the outstanding players in a tournament seed player, participant - a person who participates in or is skilled at some game to make the semis and Medvedev, the 6-foot-4 Ukrainian who grew up 60 miles from Chernobyl, was trying to become the lowest ranked player (No. 100) to win the French. He started this match on fire, blistering winners off both sides from the baseline while Agassi struggled with his game. But when Agassi won the third and broke in the second game of the fourth, there was no question about the momentum change. He was awful early. He was terrible when the court was wet after the 23-minute rain delay in the second set. But eventually, the clouds cleared, the sun warmed the court and Agassi got grooved so tightly there was no shot he couldn't hit. The half-volleys from the baseline mounted up one after another. The backhand down the line that he seemed to leave in the locker room reappeared, and he slowly, decisively caught Medvedev leaning toward the backhand side, leaving the other side of the court wide open. Rod Laver Noun 1. Rod Laver - Australian tennis player who in 1962 was the second man to win the Australian and French and English and United States singles titles in the same year; in 1969 he repeated this feat (born in 1938) Laver, Rodney George Laver , who twice won all four majors in the same year (1962 and 1969) handed Agassi the winner's trophy. He held it aloft, further proof that his strained shoulder was OK. With this win, he joins Laver, Fred Perry Frederick John Perry (May 18, 1909 – February 2, 1995) born in Stockport, Cheshire. was an English tennis player and three-time Wimbledon champion. He was the World No. (1936), Don Budge (1938) and Roy Emerson Roy Stanley Emerson (born November 3 1936) is a former Australian tennis player who won 12 Grand Slam singles titles and 16 Grand Slam men's doubles titles. He is the only male player to have won singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments. (1964) as the only players to win titles at all four Slams. ``This accomplishment could never be a burden,'' Agassi said when he finally had a bit of time to reflect. ``It's like when a special person in your life cares so much about you, it makes it easier for you to care for them. That's how I feel. ``Tennis has given me so much. I'll try to do more, just because of how good it feels.'' ELITE COMPANY Here's a look at the five men's singles players who have captured the four major tennis championships, and how many times they've won it: Andre Agassi Andre Kirk Agassi (born April 29 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada) is a former World No. 1 professional tennis player from the United States who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles. Australian (1), French (1), Wimbledon (1), U.S. (1) Roy Emerson Australian (6), French (2), Wimbledon (2), U.S. (2) Rod Laver Australian (3), French (2), Wimbledon (4), U.S. (2) Fred Perry Australian (1), French (1), Wimbledon (3), U.S. (3) Don Budge Australian (1), French (1), Wimbledon (2), U.S. (2) PAST MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONS 1925 - Rene Lacoste 1926 - Henri Cochet Henri Jean Cochet (December 14, 1901 – April 1, 1987) was a champion tennis player, one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from France who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 1927 - Rene Lacoste 1928 - Henri Cochet 1929 - Rene Lacoste 1930 - Henri Cochet 1931 - Jean Borotra Jean Robert Borotra (August 13, 1898 - June 17, 1994) was a French champion tennis player, one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Borotra was born in Domaine du Pouy, near Biarritz, Aquitaine. 1932 - Henri Cochet 1933 - Jack Crawford Jack Crawford may refer to:
1934 - Gottfried von Cramm Gottfried Alexander Maximilian Walter Kurt Freiherr von Cramm (July 7, 1909 – November 8, 1976) was a German amateur tennis champion. In his 1979 autobiography Jack Kramer, the long-time tennis promoter and great player himself, included Gottfried von Cramm in his list 1935 - Fred Perry 1936 - Gottfried von Cramm 1937 - Henner Henkel 1938 - Don Budge 1939 - Don McNeill 1940-45 - N/A, World War II 1946 - Marcel Bernard 1947 - Joszef Asboth 1948 - Frank Parker 1949 - Frank Parker 1950 - Budge Patty 1951 - Jaroslav Drobny 1952 - Jaroslav Drobny 1953 - Ken Rosewall 1954 - Tony Trabert 1955 - Tony Trabert 1956 - Lew Hoad 1957 - Sven Davidson 1958 - Mervyn Rose 1959 - Nicola Pietrangeli 1960 - Nicola Pietrangeli 1961 - Manuel Santana 1962 - Rod Laver 1963 - Roy Emerson 1964 - Manuel Santana 1965 - Fred Stolle 1966 - Tony Roche 1967 - Roy Emerson 1968 - Ken Rosewall 1969 - Rod Laver 1970 - Jan Kodes 1971 - Jan Kodes 1972 - Andres Gimeno 1973 - Ilie Nastase 1974 - Bjorn Borg 1975 - Bjorn Borg 1976 - Adriano Panatta 1977 - Guillermo Vilas 1978 - Bjorn Borg 1979 - Bjorn Borg 1980 - Bjorn Borg 1981 - Bjorn Borg 1982 - Mats Wilander 1983 - Yannick Noah 1984 - Ivan Lendl 1985 - Mats Wilander 1986 - Ivan Lendl 1987 - Ivan Lendl 1988 - Mats Wilander 1989 - Michael Chang 1990 - Andres Gomez 1991 - Jim Courier 1992 - Jim Courier 1993 - Sergi Bruguera 1994 - Sergi Bruguera 1995 - Thomas Muster 1996 - Yevgeny Kafelnikov 1997 - Gustavo Kuerten 1998 - Carlos Moya 1999 - Andre Agassi CAPTION(S): 4 Photos, 2 Boxes PHOTO (1--2--Cover--Color) SLAM DANCE! Aagassi conquers France with come-from-behind win to complete career Grand Slam Photos by Laurent Rebours and Michael Euler/Associated Press (3--Color) Andre Agassi rejoices after defeating Andrei Medvedev in the French final. Laurent Rebours/Associated Press (4--Color) Andre Agassi completed his Grand Slam trophy collection with his victory in the French. Michael Euler/Associated Press BOX: (1) ELITE COMPANY (see text) (2) PAST MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONS (see text) |
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