Agassi Wins Aussie Open in Straight Sets

M E L B O U R N E, Australia, Jan. 27, 2001 -- 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.

With 15 years of ups and downs behind him, he no longer hadto worry that he might trip himself up in a big match.

"Well I can say that I don't self-inflict and throw curves[curve balls] at myself as much anymore," Agassi said.

"I'm certainly experienced at what keeps me at my best andwhat puts me in a position to be at my best for the biggestmatches, and that's clearer now than it's ever been," he said.

In December after losing to world number one GustavoKuerten in the final of the Masters Cup in Lisbon, Agassi wasalready thinking about what he had to do to make it back to thetop of the heap in Melbourne.

Years Off Paid Off

Agassi got distracted four years ago, crashing out of thetop 10 to as low as 141 in the rankings. The tumble forced himto claw his way back up the rankings through second-tierevents, when winning another grand slam was not even aconsideration.

Those down times have actually paid off, helping to prolongAgassi's career at a time when his contemporaries, includingAustralia's Pat Rafter, are contemplating retirement.

"I think you can always second guess what you're doing andwhy you're doing it. But I've definitely come to not regretthose times."

"I think they've played a big part in my ability just tonow be healthy and to be determined, and I feel that sense ofhunger," Agassi said. "I think that has saved me for the longterm."

And now that he has won again he still expects to raise hisgame another notch.

"I can always move better. I can always be more aggressive,more consistent," Agassi said.

"You're always striving for that perfect game."