Agassi Reaches Final - 網球

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標題: [News]Agassi Reaches Final
時間: Sun Nov 16 12:51:44 2003

Agassi Reaches Final


Andre Agassi reached a final at the Tennis Masters Cup for the first
time in three years Saturday, fighting past determined German Rainer
Schuettler 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 in a winning display between the two oldest
competitors in the field.


Agassi, at age 33, gave away six years to Schuettler, competing at the
year-end event for the first time. The match began 90 minutes late due
to the first rain of the week, but action picked up pace quickly as the
pair rolled into a re-run of the Australian Open final won by Agassi in
rapid-fire straight sets last January.

Agsssi was awaiting an opponent from the second semi between Andy Roddick
and Roger Federer, champions at the last two Grand Slams.

The last time there were two U.S. semifinalists at a year-end event was
at 2000 TMC Lisbon, when both Agassi and Pete Sampras reached the final
four, Agassi going on to a runner-up finish.

The last all-American final came at the 1999 ATP World Championship in
Hannover, when Sampras defeated Agassi 61 75 64.

The first set went without a break for 52 minute before Schuettler got
Agassi into trouble. The German landed a forehand to the corner for the
7-5 early lead.

But Agassi then went on a tear, winning eight straight games to sweep
the second set and move ahead 2-0. Schuettler stopped the rot as he
finally held, then got straight back into contention with a break-back
of the stunned American.

But Agassi re-established equilibrium three games later, breaking for
4-3 as Schuettler sent a forehand just wide down the line. After saving
a match point in the final game, Schuettler bowed out on Agassi's second
winning chance.

Agassi now stands a win away from from becoming the oldest champion at
any year-end championship. He could do it Sunday at the Westside tennis
club, venue for his last title, a clay ATP trophy in April over Roddick.

Agassi was tested against Schuettler in a battle between the two oldest
men in the tournament.

"I had to pick up the pace of my shots in the second set," said the
American, an eight-time Grand Slam champion, who said that humid
conditions early on made him err on the side of caution in his offense.

"I wasn't trying to be too aggressive against him in the first set, I
didn't want to be the one taking all of the chances. But I had to step
it up in the second and he came down a notch.

"Today was a workmanlike match, I was thinking about him and what I had
to do to counter his game. I suppose in the third set when he took the
lead again, the crowd helped me out there."

Schuettler was far from disappointed with his showing. "I came here and
wanted to play well," said the 27-year-old, who started his year with
a final against Agassi in Australia and ended it here. "I had a lot of
success during the year.

"I went on court wanting to win, but I showed that my confidence is
pretty high. I'm a different player than I was at the start of the
season. For me it was a successful week. Nobody in the tournament
expected me to be in the semi-finals. I have no reason to be disappointed
about this week."

- Bill Scott


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