Tennis Factory - Tournaments - 2002 Nasdaq 100 Open

Tournaments:
	Australian Open
	French Open
	Wimbledon
	Nasdaq 100
	Legg Mason
	US Open

Key Biscayne, FL
March 17 - 31, 2003 Andre Agassi - 2002 Nasdaq 100 Open Men's Champion

Andre Agassi

Agassi Wins Fifth Nasdaq-100 Open Title

At 4-2 to Roger Federer in the fourth it was still anybody's match and the smart money might even have been on the young Swiss. Andre Agassi admitted it might not have been "too easy on me in the fifth". But it never got that far. Striking back like a cagey old lion , Agassi claimed his fifth title on Key Biscaye with a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Federer who was appearing in his first ever Tennis Masters Series final at the Nasdaq-100 Open.

In the end Agassi won only one more point that his 20-year-old opponent -- 114 to 113 -- but this is not table tennis. It is the big points that count and Agassi knew how to win them. Never going for too much in windy conditions, he let Federer hit most of the winners and make most of the mistakes, knowing the margin of victory would look a lot better that way.

Agassi is becoming a very fine analyst of how things develop on a tennis court and when he was asked why he did so well at this event, he replied, "I think there are a lot of reasons.The conditions are good for me, first of all. I think the hard courts, medium paced, allow me to hit through or work the point. It'sd windy out there which is good for my game. I don't mind playing in the wind. I have relatively short swings and can make adjustments, high or low. I have a lot of little steps when I prepare to hit a shot and I tend to work my opponent more than they work me and it's hot out there. "

And Federer? "He's still learning how to play although he already has a great game. I think he's only going to get a lot better. So I see him as definately being a threat as one of the best."

It was also Agassi's 700th career victory. Did he remember the first? You bet. Quick as a flash he replied, "John Austin on the clubhouse court at La Quinta in 1985."

The hair's gone since then but it has been replaced by wit and wisdom and the loving demeanour that comes with fatherhood. He'll be heading for Rome in a few weeks, ready to commit himself to the red clay, feeling just finre about himself and his game. And the game feels pretty good about him.

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