Agassi wins French Open, completes career Grand Slam

Sunday, June 6, 1999 | 10:49 a.m.

After losing the first two sets, Agassi surged back against Andrei Medvedev to claim in five sets the only title to elude him.

Once seemingly on the verge of defeat, Agassi regrouped and won 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. After the final point, he covered his face with his arms, trying to hide his tears.

The 13th-seeded American became only the fifth man to win all four major events. He also won the 1992 Wimbledon, the 1994 U.S. Open and the 1995 Australian Open.

The others to accomplish the feat were Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson and Rod Laver. Budge and Laver (twice) did it in the same year.

Laver came down to the court to present the trophy to Agassi.

"I'm very blessed," said the 29-year-old American, his voice shaking.

Medvedev, at No. 100 the lowest-ranked player ever to reach the French Open final, and Agassi hugged after the match.

"I'm so proud," Agassi said. "I'll never forget this."

Medvedev ruled the first two sets before Agassi found his old fire in the third and turned the match around by coming more to the net.

"It's been a lot of years since I've had this opportunity," Agassi told the crowd at Roland Garros. "I never dreamed would see this day. ... I just want to say thank you to the people who have never stopped believing in me. ...

"To be assigned a place with some of the game's greatest players is an honor I'll have the rest of my life."

Twice a loser in the French Open final, in 1990 and 1991, Agassi raised his game as the sun reappeared and the wind died down on the red clay.

He hit a backhand winner down the line and Medvedev blasted a forehand long to put Agassi a break up with a 3-2 in the fifth.

With Medvedev serving, Agassi held three match points at 5-3. Medvedev fired his 23rd ace to save the first and had another big serve to stave off the second. A double fault and a missed easy volley forehand put Medvedev into trouble again, but he produced another good serve under pressure to survive.

A couple of good serves gave Agassi his fourth match point. He fired a serve far to Medvedev's forehand and the Ukrainian's return went long.

Medvedev, playing in his first Grand Slam final, captured the first set in 19 minutes. He responded with another strong set as Agassi went through a horrendous string of errors. But as Agassi fought back, Medvedev lost some of his confidence.

"I felt if I could let him feel my presence it could turn into a battle," Agassi said.

Medvedev was ranked as high as No. 4 in 1994. But his ranking plummeted amid injuries and a loss of interest in the game. He has won 11 titles in his career.

Agassi, a former No. 1 who had also dropped out of the top 100 not too long ago, captured his fourth Grand Slam and his 40th career title to earn $635,000.

"I lost to a great player today," Medvedev said.

He finished the first two sets with aces and had 23 for the match. But he also faced one of the best returners in the game.

"It was not a great start but I hung in there," Agassi said.

Agassi broke serve for the first time for a 4-2 lead in the third when the Ukrainian netted a backhand passing shot attempt.

But Agassi's momentum did not last long. A drop shot winner, a forehand winner and a forehand wide by Agassi gave Medvedev three break points. Agassi than fired wide an easy overhead smash and the set got back on serve.

Two straight double faults gave Medvedev a break point, but Agassi saved it. The ninth game went to another deuce before Agassi held.

Agassi gained three set points at Medvedev's serve in the next game. He got the first one when the Ukrainian's lob went long, getting back into the match with loud support from the crowd.

Agassi was now producing winning shots and Medvedev was producing unforced errors.

"I knew my game wasn't gone," Agassi said.

He had a break point to go up 4-0 in the fourth, but Medvedev replied with two straight aces. He then double faulted but a good serve and a forehand winner allowed Medvedev to hold.

Medvedev blasted four aces in the sixth game, in which he fought off three break points. But Agassi closed it out on his second set point. A backhand that went wide by Medvedev gave Agassi the fourth set.

Medvedev battled to save the match in the fifth when he faced three match points in the ninth game. The game went to five deuces before Medvedev saved it.

But there was nothing he could do to stop Agassi from serving out the match.