Agassi relishes hardcourt return

看板Agassi作者shirleypu (Tsao好棒:D)時間22年前 (2003/07/29 09:06)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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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 -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw) ◆ From: 218.167.190.108