Agassi relishes hardcourt return - 網球

Agassi relishes hardcourt return
From BBC

Andre Agassi insists he is as enthusiastic as ever going into another
American hardcourt season, despite the disappointment of an early exit
at Wimbledon.

The 33-year-old begins his preparations for next month's US Open by taking
part in the Legg Mason Classic this week.

Agassi takes on either Ivo Heuberger or Thomas Blake in the first round
in Washington.

And he has been working hard since losing to Mark Philippoussis in five
sets in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

"It was disappointing to lose that early but I have shaken that off,"
said Agassi.

"It feels good to be on the hardcourts again. It has always been the
better of my surfaces.

"I have worked, relaxed, started to build my game back up again.

"I don't need to panic and make it all happen straight away. I just
need to get back and push through it."

Agassi is in his 15th year as a professional and claimed his eighth
Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.

He also briefly regained the world number one spot last month, but
his continuing motivation remains a source of interest.

"It doesn't matter how old you are," he said. "It matters what you
bring to the game. I have something to prove every day. I have to
prove it for myself that I am still getting better.

"A lot of things have to hold up. Your body has to hold up. If my
body was hurting every day, I would lose motivation.

"I'm still healthy, I still feel good out there, I still feel like
there are things to do."

這裡還有一篇

I'm a tough act to follow, says Agassi
From correspondents in Washington
July 29, 2003

ANDRE AGASSI set a lofty standard for the next wave of US tennis stars
today, saying he's been part of a "tough generation to follow".

The up-and-comers include Andy Roddick and James Blake, the last two
champions of the Legg Mason Classic, which began today. Agassi has won
the tournament five times.

"What's Andy Roddick, five in the world?" Agassi said.

"That's No.5 on the planet – that's a pretty good effort. But if you're
used to No.1, it's going to have to be more.

"Getting to the semis of Wimbledon, only four guys do it, and he was one
of them. If your expectation is to win Wimbledon, then it was a disappointing
result. I certainly don't hold an expectation for him. I just watch him
improve and learn."

Agassi, 33, is the only active member of a talented group of American
grand slam winners who dominated the 1990s. Contemporaries Jim Courier
and Michael Chang have retired, and Pete Sampras hasn't played in nearly
a year.

"It's a tough generation to follow – myself, Pete, Chang, Courier. There's
a lot of titles there," said Agassi.

He won his eighth major title at the Australian Open in January. Sampras
holds the record with 14.

Agassi hasn't played since a fourth-round loss to Mark Philippoussis at
Wimbledon. With four weeks remaining before the US Open, it's time to get
serious again.

"You go out there on the court, and your competitive juices always take
over," he said.

"You're not confused to what it is you're doing. This week I'm away from
my family and I'm not away from my family to be unmotivated. I'm here to
get better, to take my chance at winning and prepare myself for the Open."

Agence France-Presse

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