TELECOM MASTERS ITALIA

May 7, 2005

Andre Agassi

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I felt like it slipped away. I mean, certainly it could have been a lot tougher. Making it a set all changes a lot so... But, yeah, so it was disappointing.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I suppose there were occasions where I could have done that, you know. He defends very well when you come in because he gets the ball down, you know, and then you're in all sorts of trouble. I came in six different times - maybe even more - and I was playing volleys at my feet mostly, or the lob was going over my head. I could have been more aggressive for sure, but you're trying to walk a fine line between aggressive but not taking too many risks because this is something that a player like him counts on.

ANDRE AGASSI: It was a great atmosphere out there. Certainly I enjoyed it very much.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think it certainly was a good few steps forward for me being here, playing the way I did this week. Yeah, it was a lot of matches for me, and that's crucial. Somehow right now it doesn't negate the disappointment, but it's been a great week.

ANDRE AGASSI: Hamburg. So head up there to the nice weather and (smiling)...

ANDRE AGASSI: No.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, no, I stay.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, at the end you think about it, you know. You think about it all the time, really. I mean, I'd say about 14 times a year for the last, you know, three or four years. That's a lot of times.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, yeah, I've always looked forward to spending time there whenever I get a chance. It's never been ideal when it comes to the tennis for how I've chosen to prepare, which has been unfortunate. But I've always enjoyed it there, and certainly more now than ever.

ANDRE AGASSI: I understand some random words and, you know, my son interprets for me whenever I get a little curious about my wife's conversations (smiling).

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, well, he shook his finger before it bounced, first of all. Then he circles it as if it was obviously out and starts walking back as if it was obviously out. I understand making a mistake, but I don't understand suggesting that when it's that close, that it's clearly out. It was an unreasonable response and one I didn't appreciate at all. If you're not sure, that's what the umpire's there for. It's better to be not sure - that's okay, we can live with that. But to act like it's sure when it's obviously very close is unacceptable behavior.

ANDRE AGASSI: That behavior. I said that behavior is unacceptable: Just to call it with your finger before it bounced, to circle it and to walk away as if it's for sure when it obviously isn't that for sure. I'm disappointed in that behavior.

ANDRE AGASSI: No. I mean, my issue most of the time is finding the mark. I struggle with this anyhow. Then if I find the mark, most of the time I'm unsure about it because if it's close, I don't know. So I always prefer somebody else making that decision. But if it's clear, I mean... The ball that he hit was coming off the line and there was no other marks around, so this one was pretty easy to see.

ANDRE AGASSI: (Laughing). Well, I tell you, it's been a great feeling for me to be on the court and to see the seats full and people so enthusiastic about the sport. Incredible moments for me to be fighting battles against these guys in this environment. If I can still walk a year from now, I'm going to try to come back (smiling).

ANDRE AGASSI: So much is determined by the weather, you know? If it's sunny and hot, I think it's closer here than Hamburg. But if Paris is raining and heavy, it can be closer to Hamburg, you know. So most of the time I think this is the closest you get, but nothing's for sure.

ANDRE AGASSI: Not 100% sure, but my thoughts this year is to do it differently and just practice and go in and play. I've contended for a lot of years that the longer you play on grass, the worse your game gets. There's a lot to be said for just excitement of being on it, so I might give that a try this year. But it's not for sure yet.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, sure.

ANDRE AGASSI: '86, I played John McEnroe, quarterfinals of Stratton Mountain in Vermont. Yeah, I would like to play Nadal as well; he's fun to watch.