Agassi hails Federer as game's greatest - 羅傑·費德勒 Federer

Agassi hails Federer as game's greatest

Agassi 稱讚 Federer 是史上最佳

By Jim Slater (AFP)

NEW YORK — On a night when Andre Agassi was honored at the US Open for his
charity work, the retired eight-time Grand Slam champion hailed world number
one Roger Federer as the greatest player in tennis history.

一晚當 Agassi 來到美網，致力於他的慈善事業時，
這位已退役的八座大滿貫得主認為，球王 Federer 已是史上最佳的網球員

Agassi said he was delighted to see the Swiss superstar join Agassi in
completing the career Grand Slam by capturing the French Open title in June
and then win his career record 15th Slam singles title in July at Wimbledon.

Agassi 表示他很高興看到這位瑞士巨星拿下了六月份的法網，
加入了和自己一樣的生涯大滿貫行列，
然後在七月份的溫布頓，又贏下了記錄的第15座大滿貫

"What he's done in separating himself from the game should be recognized,"
Agassi said. "The problem is it wasn't being recognized if he didn't win
Paris. I thought once he did the discussion is over with.

Agassi 說：「他在賽場上做到的，已經傑出到應該要被提及和認可了，
並不是因為他沒奪到法網就能忽略這點，而現在他也讓這些爭論都停止了」

"What started to become even more frustrating as I looked at Roger's career
for Roger is him having to win the 15th to somehow conclude, so for him just
to remove that as some sort of possible thorn I think is right."

「就跟我看Roger的生涯一樣，對於Roger來說，甚至有些沮喪的就是，
他不得不贏得第15座大滿貫才能用某種方式來結束這些煩人的爭論」

It was 10 years ago on the red clay of Roland Garros when Agassi completed
his career Slam by lifting the trophy in Paris, so he knew Federer's joy at
having secured a victory in all four Grand Slam events.

10年前Agassi在法網紅土的賽場上，也曾舉起獎盃完成他生涯的大滿貫，
所以他知道拿下四種大滿貫那種勝利的愉悅

"It was just a pleasure to watch," Agassi said. "It would have been a crime
had he not ever won in Paris."

Agassi說：「很高興能見證到這個時刻，如果他從沒贏下過法網，那簡直就是犯罪了」

Federer had lost to Spain's Rafael Nadal in the French Open finals the past
three years, missing a Grand Slam sweep in 2006 and 2007 as a result of the
Paris loss each time, but finally broke through this year.

Federer 過去曾經在過去三年法網的決賽中輸給 Nadal，
錯過了2006和2007橫掃大滿貫的機會，但是今年他終於突破了

"He has been the second best clay courter for five years running," Agassi
said. "He should have won four or five French Opens, if it wasn't for one
sort of freakish kid from Mallorca.

Agassi說：「過去五年他都是紅土上的第二好的選手，
如果沒有這位來自Mallorca的神奇小子，他應該要贏下四到五座法網」

"He would have won possibly two Grand Slams, all four in the same year, two
years in a row."

「他很有可能有連續兩年, 同年內贏下四座大滿貫」

Agassi and fellow retired US sport stars David Robinson from basketball, Mia
Hamm from women's football and American football quarterback Doug Flutie
received a tribute for their charity deeds at an Arthur Ashe Stadium ceremony.

Agassi和已退休的美國籃球員David Robinson等等的運動明星，
因為他們的慈善事業來到Ashe球場的典禮

"I'm extra proud to share this court with athletes that are not only great
but doing great work, affecting so many lives and impacting so many people,"
Agassi told the crowd.

Agassi表示：「我特別驕傲能分享這個場地給這些運動員，他們不僅有偉大的成績，
也正在做偉大的事情，他們的行為影響了很多很多的人」

Agassi's foundation has raised nearly 75 million dollars in the past 15 years
to finance a school for needy children in Las Vegas. His first graduating
class this year will attend college.

Agassi的基金會在過去15年中，籌資了將近75M的資金，
創辦學校給在Las Vegas那些需要幫助的小朋友，第一批的畢業生在今年將要升上大學

"No accomplishment has come close to matching the fulfillment I feel with
what our foundation is doing," Agassi said.

Agassi說：「我們基金會所做的任何事情和成果，都不會讓我們有所滿足的」

"The earlier we interrupt a downward spiral, the earlier we give the tools of
hope, the more profoundly we can impact the life of a child."

「我們之前阻止了一些惡性循環，也給予的一些希望的管道，
我們可以做到更多的事情，給這些孩子的生命中帶來更多影響」

Agassi, who made a third-round exit in the 2006 US Open to conclude his
career, was glad to be the center of attention at Arthur Ashe Stadium again,
even if only for one night.

Agassi在2006年的美網第三輪中淘汰，於當時同時結束了他的職業生涯，
他很高興能再次來到Ashe球場，就算只有區區一晚

"It feels amazing," Agassi said. "It feels great pulling up to the stadium,
not caring how you feel. That's probably the best part.

Agassi說：「很驚訝的，當我走進球場的時候，感覺非常好，不必再擔心自己的感受，
這才是最棒的一部分」

"I can't tell you how many times I've come here a little bit tired, a little
bit sore, a little bit injured, a little bit distracted. There's nowhere to
hide out there so I've lived and died on this court many times and taken a
lot of people with me."

「我無法告訴你們曾經有多少次，當我過去來到這裡時，
總有些許的疲累，些許的疼痛，些許的受傷，或是些許的心煩，
這裡沒有任何可以躲藏的地方，在這裡我曾經經歷過很多次生與死，
我想很多人也和我一樣」

Copyright c 2009 AFP. All rights reserved

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