Agassi Wins Aussie Open in Straight Sets

M E L B O U R N E, Australia, Jan. 27 -- It had been a year sinceAndre Agassi had won a tournament of any kind. Now he has aseventh Grand Slam title under his belt and is hungry formore.

"I think if I really play my cards right, this can be thestart of an incredible year," Agassi said after winning theAustralian Open for the second year in a row, beating France'sArnaud Clement 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

"It's been a year since I've won. I'll do my best not tomake it another year before I win again," he said.

Agassi was riddled with injuries last year, starting inFebruary when he took a month off after pulling out of atournament with a lower back strain. In July his car wasshunted from behind, giving him another back injury.

He took two months off after the U.S. Open, after hismother and sister were diagnosed with breast cancer.

"It wasn't an easy year. The year before was soincredible," he said, referring to 1999 when he won the Frenchand U.S. Opens and was runner-up at Wimbledon.

"It's almost impossible not to have a let down. My bodybroke down a little bit and so did some personal things. Theytook a toll on me," he said.

But now he's back.

Full of Confidence

Agassi was brimming with confidence when he came toMelbourne Park two weeks ago, having won a warm-up exhibitionat Kooyong and feeling more rested than last year.

Unlike many of his big name rivals who were rusty at thestart of the new season, he knew he was in good shape.

"I was thinking coming into this event that it's one of thefirst times being a defending champion feels less aboutpressure and more about knowing that you can play well here,"he said.

"I came into this tournament feeling like my game was verysolid. I was in a good position physically, then it did getbetter each day."

Agassi looked like he could do no wrong. His game was in agroove, and his wins seemed almost effortless.

On his way to the quarter-finals he did not drop a set, andhad a break in the fourth round when his opponent, German DavidPrinosil, quit in the second set with heat exhaustion.