Agassi set to continue his storybook career

Victoria Sun

Friday, Feb. 4, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

Andre Agassi is a bona fide giant in the tennis world these days.

This time more than ever, he rightfully deserves the attention.

Last Sunday the 29-year-old Las Vegas native captured his sixth Grand Slam title and third in four consecutive Grand Slam finals by winning the Australian Open.

The day after his victory, he flew to Zimbabwe to prepare for his first Davis Cup match that he won 7-5, 6-3, 7-5 this morning over the Southern African nation's second-best player, Wayne Black.

On Thursday, Agassi took some time to engage in a teleconference. Not surprisingly, the talk had very little to do with the first-round Davis Cup match and much to do with his so-called tennis resurrection.

The way Agassi sees it, those who know him best, including himself, knew he could do it even before he outlasted nemesis Pete Sampras in one of the most memorable Australian Open semifinals five days ago.

"I think I certainly have had a strong appreciation for my accomplishments in many areas, even off the court," Agassi said. "I think if you look at my -- just my tennis, you would perceive it as some kind of inconsistent ride.

"But if you looked at my life as a whole, you would see a very familiar theme which is somebody who pours all of himself into what it is that they are focused on. That has always been my instinct and now it is something that I understand and direct a little bit clearer.

"But it's possible that a match like that against Pete, just because it does have a storybook feel to it, with the rivalry and the whole thing, that might illustrate or symbolize, you know, where I am. But I don't think I have proved anything to myself. I think it was I was just a little lucky at the right time and played well."

If Agassi was lucky to come back to beat Sampras after finding himself trailing the American with the blistering serve 1-2 in sets, luck definitely didn't have anything to do with his regaining the No. 1 singles ranking in the world.

Gone are the baggy stone-washed jean shorts and flamboyant tennis shoes and shirts he wore in colors like lava red and black during the earlier stages of his career. His long mane of wavy brown hair that had women fawning over him (many still do) like he was a rock star, has also been replaced by a more sophisticated short cut.

The 14-year tour veteran's gradual change of appearance leading to a wiser, more mature-looking heartthrob isn't what helped Agassi stage one of the greatest comebacks in the sport's history in 1998 when he vaulted from a No. 122 ranking that included stints on the Challenger circuit, the minor leagues of tennis, to finish the year at No. 6.

The "new" Agassi was unveiled after he decided to fully re-dedicate himself to the sport by getting into better shape and focusing most of his time on training with trainer Gil Reyes and coach Brad Gilbert.

With the best return in the game and nearly flawless ground strokes on both sides, Agassi probably could have had many more years that mirrored 1999 when he won his first French Open and his second U.S. Open.

But now that he's back on top, there are no signs that he wants to give it up.

He says he would love to win every slam at least twice, which leaves the French Open and Wimbledon (he won his only Wimbledon title in 1992), although he called the chances of completing a Grand Slam -- winning all four Grand Slams in the same year -- an "absurd thought."

His goal remains what it was when he first made the climb back into the top of the game.

"I think any athlete has that desire to end their career feeling like they saw their best and no matter how much I win, if I feel like I can still improve, that is what motivates me," he said. "End of story."

He then said what he felt needed improving.

"I don't necessarily feel like I have any strong weaknesses, but I mean, I feel like I can always get better," he said. "I feel like I can always serve better.

"I feel like I can always hit heavier rally shots; that I can make them in 10 out of 10 times. I mean, you can just do everything better. It is not possible to look at it otherwise."

That's bad news for his opponents, but will make for good conversation years from now when Agassi's storybook tennis career is still being talked about.