Fans Wait to See Which Agassi Shows at US Open

Posted on August 28, 2004

By Richard Vach

34-year-old Andre Agassi is a young man in the overall scheme of things, such as the guy in the corner cubicle slowly moving up the corporate ladder, but in tennis terms is definitely long in tooth.

Tennis is a young man's game, dominated by early 20-somethings and teenagers who, no matter what their strength or build, wield super-technology racquets and bludgeon the ball like players from the '80s only dreamed of. In the mid-'80s when Agassi turned pro there weren't many players Babolating 150 mph serves at his head.

While the fickle tennis media screamed for Pete Sampras' retirement when the former No. 1 struggled mightily before his storybook US Open send-off two years ago, no one has dared mention that perhaps Agassi should hang it up. Because he keeps on winning.

But lately the years have started to show in Agassi's game. Certainly not from the fitness end, not from the guy who runs hills until he pukes with trainer Gil Reyes. Not from the trials and tribulation of family, thanks to the ultra-supportive Stephanie "Steffi" Graf (helps to have a wife who is also one of the greatest players of all time). Not even from a lack of drive after almost 20 years as a pro.

Andre's problem is his body is breaking down.

This year hip problems have forced Agassi to withdraw from or skip play on more than one occasion, problems that former coach Brad Gilbert in his just-released book "I've Got Your Back" revealed have been a problem since at least the late '90s. That's free pub "Beej," hope the check is in the mail.

But just when it looked like Agassi's injuries earlier this year might make an early end of his 2004 campaign (and maybe his career), he emerged from a slew of shaky results to win the Masters Series-Cincinnati, one of the toughest draws of the year.

This begs the question: Which Andre Agassi will we see next week at the US Open?

The Andre that suffered consecutive first-round losses during the claycourt season to (I'm not making up these names) Nenad Zimonic and Jerome Haehnel?

The Andre who ripped to the semis straight away in his first event of the year at the Australian Open (l. to Safin), then followed with two more semis at San Jose (l. to Fish) and Indian Wells (l. to Federer), the Andre who couldn't quite get over the hump?

Or maybe the Andre who defeated future Olympic medalist Mardy "Silver" Fish, former Aussie Open champ Thomas "Tommy the J." Johansson, Top 20-ranked Juan Ignacio Chela, and three consecutive Top 10-ranked players in Carlos Moya, Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt, all former No. 1s, to win Cincy? That was a joke -- most of the Grand Slam winners in the Open Era have had easier roads to the title than that. Show me a Slam winner who beat opponents with a lower average ranking.

But as anyone who has seen the "deer in the headlights" look that comes over Agassi when he senses things are getting out of control during a match, a big part of Andre's gig is the confidence. All those days of puking with Gil don't mean a thing if "The Boss," as Gilbert used to refer to his charge back in the day, isn't feeling the flow.

"I feel a lot more belief and conviction in what I'm doing, so that's only going to help," Agassi said after his win in Cincinnati. "The title in Cincinnati gives me belief going into the Open. I just want to give myself a chance to play my best tennis when it matters the most."

Looks to be working so far.

Agassi may not be the best bet for taking home another Open title, but if the bookies took wagers on sentimental value, all bets would be on The Boss during what could be his last run in Flushing Meadows.