Blissful thinking

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, May 14, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.

Andre Agassi's blissful life got even better last October when he married fellow tennis sensation Stefanie Graf and celebrated the birth of son Jaden Gil.

Agassi now wakes up next to one of the best female tennis players of all time (Graf has won 22 Grand Slam titles, 107 singles titles and an Olympic gold medal) who has appeared in numerous magazines -- including a tasteful spread in Sports Illustrated's 1997 Swimsuit edition.

And because he thoroughly enjoys fatherhood, his eyes sparkle when he talks about a son.

Yet he's not about to abandon his rackets for a life at home.

For Agassi, adding to the family's massive trophy collection remains a top priority, so Graf and Jaden often travel with him, keeping the happy family intact.

"I still do," Agassi said emphatically about his desire to compete at the highest level. "I still want to.

"It's a different level of motivation. Before, there was that eagerness and freshness about it all and now it's just about challenging myself and asking the most of myself.

"I feel every bit as motivated now. I do find myself having to be more careful as to the decisions I make with my schedule, my body and recovery. A lot more goes into it now, but the desire is still the same."

That was evident in his victory in the clay-court Italian Open last week, a tune-up for the upcoming French Open, one of tennis' Grand Slam events.

Finally, after 17 years since Agassi first entered the tourney in Italy, he easily conquered German Tommy Haas on Sunday for his 52nd career singles title.

Earlier in the year, he picked up No. 50 in Scottsdale and No. 51 in Miami.

But it's the one he missed that has him fired up to win his second French Open title.

In January, Agassi was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, because of a wrist injury.

"Every Slam you get up for, that's what it's all about," Agassi said. "Missing Australia is going to give me a lot of motivation and excitement going into Paris.

"I think I'll be able to do well there. I think I can find my clay game and I hope to get out there and make it happen.

"I think I'm in good position to play well this clay court season."

That was evidenced by his straight sets victory over Haas.

When Agassi is at his best, he is virtually unstoppable. His uncanny ability to anticipate shots combined with his lethal return of serve, powerful ground strokes and fitness level have helped him trying to catch his wife's victory total.

"I'll make jokes about it, (but) it's not quite her style," Agassi said, laughing. "I'll make jokes about how no matter what I accomplish, it's always less than her."

So much of what Agassi has accomplished has been on his own terms and his own timetable, rendering his improvement with age all the more remarkable.

At last year's U.S. Open, Agassi's trainer Gil Reyes remarked that the 32-year-old Las Vegan "runs until his legs burn and his lungs scream."

"Andre has to have the confidence in his body to know that if a match goes four or five hours, he can call on his legs and not wonder if he has it," Reyes said. "We have a covenant, he and I, that we'll never, ever, ever wonder if his legs are ready.

"The way you get there is putting in the training before you get there. With that I think comes the assurance that when you step on the court there's nothing that's going to happen that you're not prepared for."

Agassi acknowledges that he has been fortunate that he hasn't had any career threatening injuries.

"I think I'm more experienced, better at what I do," Agassi said. "But I've managed to stay healthy and stay strong and that's important.

"You've got to be able to get to the ball before you can do anything with it. I feel better now than I have ever been."

His physical health and improved mental focus on the court have helped him contend with the younger crop of players eager to dethrone the old guard.

For years, it seemed fellow American Pete Sampras, was Agassi's only true adversary.

Now, rising stars Australian Lleyton Hewitt, Swiss player Roger Federer, Russia's Marat Safin and even Haas await. "What motivates me is the new generation of players," Agassi said. "It's not that they're necessarily better. But they bring something different to the equation.

"It forces you to get better. To make adjustments. To grow as a tennis player. So that's what I enjoy most about it." "