Agassi and Legg Mason

[raspell38120]

Saw AA on TV against Gonzo last week and made it to Legg Mason to watch him play Stoppino last night. Very sad. His great return game is gone as he struggles to move to balls. He wins most of his points now with his serve, I'm not kidding as he seems to have no interest in working a point and moving people like he used to. he also rarely uses his add side kick to open court. Hitting pretty flat groundies only so error rate is very high. If it is an extended rally and has to move from side to side that's when it shows that his movement is bad. Guys, this was an ugly tough loss against a non top-rated opponent. Gonzo appeared to coast last week against him. BTW, first of the second set last nite, AA pretzeled a racquet. would have made Safin proud.

On another note, Alex Kim/Blake was awesome tennis. Kim's a player with a great one hand bhand. Unfortunately, serving to put first serve in tiebreak, he tightened up and couldn't get a second serve in and ones in were under 80 mph. that seems to be his main weakness. Not a perfect Blake match but he is really athletic and really hitting the ball hard. fun match to watch.

 

[couch]

I think he knows it's the end. It will be nice to see him retire at the U.S. Open. He just doesn't seem to be the same player anymore. I think the hip thing has finally taken too much toll. He's had a great run though.

 

[chiru]

i wouldda called it quits after uso 05, i mean he knew he wasnt gonna go deep again, i mean his health has been in shambles for quite sometime.

 

[BaseLineBash]

i wouldda called it quits after uso 05, i mean he knew he wasnt gonna go deep again, i mean his health has been in shambles for quite sometime.

I understand what you are saying, but you have to look at it from his undeniable perspective. Andre Kirk Agassi has been a tennis player basicly from the beginning of his life, he turned pro in 1986 at the age of 16 and is now 36 years of age still on the tour. It has defined him to a large degree whether he admits it or not, to walk away from something that you have always known and that has always been constant has to be hard, VERY hard. Look at other occupations, barbers and electricians, these types of work you really can do for a long period of your life almost all on your terms. With tennis or any other physically demanding sport it's not all on your terms, you can't do these things into your 60s and 70s and it hurts, it really hurts when the mind is willing but the body is not. What's on the other side is another part of the equation, kinda like a man that has been imprisoned for more than half his life, what does he do once he finally gets out? It's scary no matter how much money or money you don't have. Luckily it seems Andre has readied himself and is anxious at this point to what is on the other side, to find out who is on the other of Andre Kirk Agassi, who is the real Agassi. The one thing I hope no one takes for granted, is the love Andre has for this game and all that support it.

 

[scotus]

Sampras walked through the valley before he climbed up the hill of the U.S. Open.

So who knows Andre might luck out, too... I hope.

 

[Bogie]

Sampras walked through the valley before he climbed up the hill of the U.S. Open.

So who knows Andre might luck out, too... I hope.

most of us hope so as well, but based on the looks of it as of right now, it seems very unlikely

 

[splink779]

Sampras walked through the valley before he climbed up the hill of the U.S. Open.

So who knows Andre might luck out, too... I hope.

I hope so. But Sampras had the big weapon that you don't have to be at your prime to use - the serve. They always say thats the last to go. No matter what Agassi can't really crank the serve over around 125 and thats flat as a pancake.

 

[Phillip=Tennis guy]

king sampras.

 

[FiveO]

Sampras walked through the valley before he climbed up the hill of the U.S. Open.

So who knows Andre might luck out, too... I hope.

Sampras fall was more psychological/confidence related than a physical one, and even though a perceptible lull, and that while not the player he had been, Sampras had reached his third US Open final in a row when he beat Agassi and went out a winner. In the 2002 you saw Sampras's confidence grow with each win, and the belief and swagger return. The skills were there and even if in a chassis that was a 1/2 or full step slower, it was willing.

Agassi's isn't. It was obvious to me even at Wimbledon. He's hurting and playing through it. He is more dragging himself through to the finish line of the Open than looking to regain his championship form of even last year. It's sad really and one can almost see it on his face. His body won't let him do what he wants to.

 

[RadekStepanekTheKing]

king sampras.

Agassi forever

 

[J-man]

It will be sad to see AA go out of the USopen very early. Which it looks like that will happen

 

[sandiegotennisboy]

It will be sad to see AA go out of the USopen very early. Which it looks like that will happen

better tivo that ish...or if youre actually going to the USO this year, better go to the "free" days when theyre there to practice or buy 1st round and 2nd round tickets.