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Agassi captures 50th career championship

Monday, March 11, 2002 | 9:39 a.m.

Andre Agassi's 50th career championship came in a tournament he can't help but like.

The Las Vegan won his fourth Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic title Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., defeating Juan Balcells of Spain 6-2, 7-6 (2) in a tuneup for the more lucrative Tennis Masters Series events at Indian Wells, Calif., and Miami.

Agassi, the defending champion of both, said Scottsdale is the perfect lead-in for Indian Wells, another high desert site where the ball carries.

"If you're hitting the ball well here, you can make the adjustment there like in a matter of minutes," he said. "I enjoy playing here, but it's certainly an added luxury that you can come to a place that has altitude and prepare for the next week."

The 31-year-old Agassi last year became the oldest player to rank in the top three since Jimmy Connors in 1984. But he was unable to defend his consecutive Australian Open titles in January because of a wrist injury and arrived to play for the 10th time in Scottsdale at No. 5 in the ATP system.

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