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Agassi says he`s last member of `tough generation to follow`
Washington, July 29: Andre Agassi set a lofty standard for the next wave of us tennis stars, saying he`s part of a `tough generation to follow.`
Washington, July 29: Andre Agassi set a lofty standard
for the next wave of us tennis stars, saying he's 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 yesterday. Agassi has won the tournament five times. "What's Andy Roddick, five in the world?" Agassi said. "That's number five on the planet; that's a pretty good effort. But if you're used to number one, 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, then it was a disappointing result. I certainly don't hold an expectation. I just watch him improve and learn." Agassi, 33, is the only active member of a talented group of 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," Agassi said.
He won his eighth career 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," Agassi 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."
Bureau Report
The up-and-comers include Andy Roddick and James Blake, the last two champions of the Legg Mason Classic, which began yesterday. Agassi has won the tournament five times. "What's Andy Roddick, five in the world?" Agassi said. "That's number five on the planet; that's a pretty good effort. But if you're used to number one, 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, then it was a disappointing result. I certainly don't hold an expectation. I just watch him improve and learn." Agassi, 33, is the only active member of a talented group of 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," Agassi said.
He won his eighth career 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," Agassi 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."
Bureau Report