U.S. OPEN

September 11, 1994

Andre Agassi

ANDRE AGASSI: I didn't remember until I saw the tape, but I just said, "I can't believe it, the whole thing."

ANDRE AGASSI: I got off to an incredible start, which was very important because I really felt like Michael was playing extremely well today, and he started off a little slow. And then in the second set, it was not to my surprise at all that we were having a battle for it, and when we got to the tiebreaker, I was just trying to remind myself, you know, hey, I got a set lead here and stay on this guy and really make him work for every point, every point, and just trying so hard to stay focused, and once I got that second set, you know, it is a big lead to be up two sets to Love. But still, you know, you got a match ahead of you if you don't do things right, and I didn't convert on some early breakpoints in the third which could have made it a lot easier. But he fought hard and, you know, sooner or later I felt like I was going to convert on his serve because he was making a lot of great volleys, and sure enough, it happened.

ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, I think nothing can touch the dynamics of everything that was going on when I won Wimbledon. The fact that I never won a Grand Slam; the fact that nobody believed I could play on grass; nobody believed I had the heart to get through a tough match in the championship rounds. And so, I think those dynamics make that the most special thing I have ever been through for its own reason. But winning this has its own place to me; that is really the greatest thing I could experience after Wimbledon.

ANDRE AGASSI: I sure hope so, you know, I mean, I -- all I can say is that I just love playing it. I love playing. And people were really excited. We had a full stadium today, packed the place, really enjoyed it. It was just good for tennis. I don't know if it is me as much as just the tennis and the quality of play that has been going on.

ANDRE AGASSI: You know, what I have realized playing Davis Cup, though, I have realized that a small group of Germans can make more noise than 23,000 Americans.

ANDRE AGASSI: Did I feel sorry for him? No. Quite honestly. I mean, I played Chang, and I played Todd and it is the Americans, and the Americans and the crowd gets split and, you know, it was just a great feeling to have that kind of support. I mean, this is my country. And it is just like how Sergi feels after he-- after he wins on the clay. For some reason it is just, you know, Europeans grow up, the French Open is it, and I think that Americans grow up, the U.S. Open is it.

ANDRE AGASSI: I would have to say probably getting through that Chang match. That was a big obstacle for me, that fifth set. To take the guy who is arguably the mentally toughest, and fittest and beat him so handily in the fifth really gave me a lot of confidence.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yes, I would have had a chance.

ANDRE AGASSI: What are you getting at back there?

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think Brad's involvement with my career has been -- is such a vital piece. I mean, he has really brought an element to my game that I have never had. And I actually believe now that not only can I overcome my weaknesses as far as mentally being focused and determined, but I can actually become stronger than most of the guys that I play, and that is what I am feeling when I am out there. You know, Brad has believed that I can do this, and he feels like I should, and we have worked together now for a while, and we have had ups and downs. But through it all, it is, I think, it is now starting to come out. Sometimes you don't experience those results right a way, you have to persevere-- and so I'd say the dedication that I have had to the game first and foremost, and then Brad's involvement.

ANDRE AGASSI: Quite possibly, I mean, reality of it is I lost the first 3 Grand Slam finals that I was in, so you know, there were times where I might have found some way to lose a match like this, but, you know, that is all behind me, I mean, I am-- I have a lot of experience now and, you know, I said going out there that expectations -- and that it gets thrown on me isn't going to make me want this title any more or any less. I have been around. I am going to go out there and do everything I have been doing and stay focused make him have to beat that.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, it was a dream slowly becoming a fantasy. You know, because I -- when your ranking falls and you go through an injury that is career-threatening, you do believe if you are ever be back. And I have questioned that a few times.

ANDRE AGASSI: I don't even remember. I was so--

ANDRE AGASSI: I was so --

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, you know, I mean, in hindsight, I still say that Pete hasn't played a match as good as he played that finals and Pete has played a lot of good tennis since then, but I didn't have much to say that day, and I don't think much had to do with me out there, quite honestly, that match, but -- this one stands on its own to me. I don't have to compare it to anything to be proud of what it is. I have managed to accomplish these two weeks.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, you know, first of all, you got to understand, you know, the strategies of the game. I mean, the reality of it is for two sets, the second and third set, he was making incredible reach volleys that were keeping him from getting broken a lot. And when I had that short ball, quite honestly, my strategy changed. I am not going to try to pass him out here, a guy 6 foot 4. My goal was to win the point, not to hit him. And I did want him to know that, and that is just because I didn't want to hit -- I don't care to hit somebody. I am not going to, you know, win the match by default. I just wanted to win the point.

ANDRE AGASSI: You know, I think it has always been said which is at times hindered me that I have the game to have more than one Grand Slam title. I have the game to be No. 2 to Pete Sampras. I have the game -- and I think the game has always been there, and mentally I have never allowed it. I don't think, to really be at the level that I can be on, and now my improvements have been mental, and winning this tournament, you can't be-- you can't play bad and be strong mentally and win the tournament, but you certainly can't play great and be mentally weak; it all has to come together. It is like hitting the greens but not seeking the putts, you know.

ANDRE AGASSI: No. That is probably the most I have ever utilized my serve in one single match.

ANDRE AGASSI: I think I am saying I can't believe that it is all over; that it is done; not that I can't believe that I actually did this. I can't believe that it is over. That is it. You know. And you are mentally so stressed, I mean, even between matches you won't even recognize my personality hanging out with me. God help the people that had to hang around with me these past couple of weeks just because you are so focused on what you need to do and only an athlete that competes in that kind of environment really understands all that goes behind when it is all done, it is such a moment of relief that you just -- you can't believe it.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I was number 1 these two weeks, so if I can do it for these two weeks I can somehow now take another step and make it more often.

ANDRE AGASSI: What it is that, you know, first of all, I have had exhibition Tour that I am doing, and the reason why I am doing it is because there hasn't been one exhibition match in the United States all year. I am the only one that is playing an exhibition match. Tennis has taken a fall. That is the bottom line, and it was -- it is my making all the effort I can to somehow keep it alive and it is very important to me. This exhibition Tour is very important to me. Davis Cup, I have committed to for five years. And I am still 24 so there is a lot of years still ahead of me. I will always come back to Davis Cup. Right now it has taken the back seat to some of my priorities. And I am -- I don't feel bad about that because I have given Davis Cup, you know, some of my best years and they are going to get a few more. But just not right now.

ANDRE AGASSI: It is over a few different cities going to start in Albany with Johnny Mac Tuesday.

ANDRE AGASSI: Right. Well this is, I think more than anything this is a reflection of my commitment. And, you know, if I had gone down to one of these guys during the week, you know, if I had lost the fifth set to Chang; if Martin had, you know, I mean, I would still have been sitting here saying the same thing I got to keep on my dreams and my dreams are to come out here and win, you know, a tournament like this. I mean, that is where it is at winning the Grand Slams, and my dedication to that wouldn't have changed, but now that I have won the belief now is going to hopefully quite honestly has no choice but to refuel me now because my commitment isn't any different than it was two weeks ago. But now I am just having a lot more confidence and belief.

ANDRE AGASSI: I am going to Australia. Brad wouldn't have it any other way.

ANDRE AGASSI: You know, I think every level of life nobody knows you like you are. If you don't get to spend time with the person, so I mean, yeah, I think that I am at times a lot different than people might expect. I don't know what their expectations are. I just know most of them that come around me are in shock so could base it on that.

ANDRE AGASSI: My dad?

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, he has been here for the duration.

ANDRE AGASSI: Oh sure.

ANDRE AGASSI: No.

ANDRE AGASSI: You know, I can't answer that. I feel like my -- there is a lot of room to me to step up now and start playing even better tennis. But there is a lot of great players out there, so I mean, to say anybody even Pete winning a Grand Slam, I mean, quite honestly, I didn't believe it, you know, until if he would have won the French then I would have said now with grass and hard court coming up, but it is not an easy thing to do. So --

ANDRE AGASSI: I was like -- just a feeling like I can't do anything wrong.

ANDRE AGASSI: No. You know, you can't explain it. But people can experience it on a lot of different levels. Accomplishing your dreams is a feeling that not just athletes have, so -- but I will say that that feeling is one that increases as years go by. It is one that I will feel better about this tomorrow, than I do today and so on and so on because of what it represents.

ANDRE AGASSI: I don't -- I don't think about it. I don't feel pressure. I don't even really you know, have a feel a need to even consider that. I mean, my -- what I give the game and what I do for the game is solely based on me and who I am; not on anything I need to continue acting out, like everybody thinks the image I am still here and this image is everything, I will probably hear it the rest of my life. But no, I don't feel pressure and no, I think the game is going to survive, you know, whether I am around or not.

ANDRE AGASSI: I am sorry how everybody took that slogan.