NASDAQ-100 OPEN

March 26, 2005

Andre Agassi

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andre Agassi, please.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I felt it a little bit, but it was a couple times early it was slightly hesitant. But when I pushed through, it never got worse. I felt like I could really push through it, so that was reassuring. You know, it was a tough match, tough first-round match. He plays real talented tennis. He can come up with some great shots and certainly makes you feel the pressure to hit every ball exactly the way you want or else he'll take advantage of anything you leave short. It was a good one to get through.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, it's maybe 20% more than normal, which is down from twice the size.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, thanks. I didn't start off so well. Missed a lot of first serves early but then I found my rhythm and started to relax a little bit more on it. That always makes your life a lot easier out there when you can get a few free points.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I like the heat and humidity. I prefer the sun with the humidity, though. Somehow it feels normal. But when you're out there at night and you're sort of sweating and you can't stop and everything's getting wet - your grip and your racquet - that gets a bit uncomfortable. But we come to know it down here, at least I have over 19 years. So I don't wake up with any other expectation really.

ANDRE AGASSI: It went perfect to plan. Just tough enough, and then find a way to win each set. But you expect them all to be tough. There's nothing I take for granted out there, especially anymore. And it's a good one to get through. First set could have gone either way, he had his chances. Next set, it could have been a lot easier on me if I had -- I could have made it easier on myself if I had converted a 30-Love hold at 2-1. But all in all, I feel real good about it.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, yeah, I don't know what to say really. I understand why somebody's not playing at 35; it's not easy. It's really difficult from a number of standpoints. But, you know, I still do it. I'm still out here trying to figure out how to get through these matches and, you know, it gets harder every year. I don't know how to put it in context really, of what it is I'm doing now versus what others have or haven't done. I just can say that I'm still thinking about the tennis when I'm out there, and that's a good thing.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I certainly remember playing him a number times. Connors was a great competitor, you know, so I think I always try to learn from everybody, really. Nothing really about the age. I mean, I was always amazed at what he was doing because there was no reference point for me, you know, nobody else was doing it, so I figured it was pretty hard to do. But I had a very young perspective, and I was just trying to figure out how I could beat him.

ANDRE AGASSI: What day?

ANDRE AGASSI: Oh, no, no. I don't know (smiling).

ANDRE AGASSI: No.

ANDRE AGASSI: Is it? I don't know. I've never had it before, so I don't know how special it is (laughing). Yeah, I'm not a big birthday person. I mean, I try to make more of a big deal of it now because of my kids and I know how much my children enjoy it. I'm trying to show more enthusiasm to my own birthdays, but it's not an easy thing for me to do. I don't make plans, and I feel like I'm doing pretty good if I turn my cellular phone on (smiling).