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[pieterSAN]

The US Open 2006 begins tomorrow and it is being touted as Andre Agassi's farewell tournament. I just took a look at his quarter and it looks brutal. His first round match itself may be his last match ever - he plays Andrei Pavel who was ranked 13 in the world two years ago. Those who are interested - he plays Monday night at 8:30 pm (EST).

Even if he gets through it only gets harder. Likely opponents in later rounds are as follows

2nd - Baghdatis
3rd - Grosjean/Johannson
4th - Djokovic/Ljubicic Roddick
QF - Djokovic/Ljubicic

[Sahir]

I'm going to predict a 4th round exit against Ljubicic

[pieterSAN]

I don't want to voice my own prediction....but I can't believe this is happening - no more Andre....

[keep-it-cool]

2nd round exit is what I think

[poondu]

I predict a second round exit, if his back holds through the first round.

[poondu]

I sincerely hope my prediction is wrong.

[ramshorns]

Anyone interested in joining me for the US open matches.  I am going for the night session on 9/3/2006.  Please let me know.  There are only a few tickets available.

[Sahir]

I don't want to voice my own prediction....but I can't believe this is happening - no more Andre....

It really is sad-- the end of an era.  No Sampras, no Graf, no Agassi... tennis is not quite the same, but thank God for Roger!  Hopefully Nadal can continue to improve his allcourt game and mount a serious challenge for the best player in the world-- nothing quite like a great rivalry.

[pieterSAN]

The US Open 2006 begins tomorrow and it is being touted as Andre Agassi's farewell tournament. I just took a look at his quarter and it looks brutal. His first round match itself may be his last match ever - he plays Andrei Pavel who was ranked 13 in the world two years ago. Those who are interested - he plays Monday night at 8:30 pm (EST).

Even if he gets throught it only gets harder. Likely opponests in later rounds are as follows

2nd - Baghdatis
3rd - Grosjean/Johannson
4th - Djokovic/Ljubicic

I made mistake looking at the draws...likely opponents should look like this.

2nd - Baghdatis
3rd - Grosjean/Johannson
4th - Roddick
QF - Djokovic/Ljubicic

Apologies.

[Sahir]

Oh well, even worse!  I'll still go with a 4th round exit, to Roddick this time though.

[justforkix]

I predict an exit as the US Open Champion 

[Sahir]

I predict an exit as the US Open Champion 

Well-- you never know!  Sampras was in much worse form and a bigger underdog when he won his last Open, what fittingly turned out to be his last match.  It would be poetic if that's the way it were to end for Agassi as well.

[poondu]

I think the best tennis Agassi ever played was against Federer  for a couple of sets (in the Finals/SF's a couple of years back) which he still lost.

[Sahir]

I think the best tennis Agassi ever played was against Federer  for a couple of sets (in the Finals/SF's a couple of years back) which he still lost.

You think that was the best he ever played in his career?  That's unlikely considering that he has definitely lost a step or two from his prime when he was just about the quickest around the court while also being an incredible strokeplayer.  In his old age, he has made up for the loss of his physical attributes with some incredible tennis nous, possibly the finest ever.  However, eventually, the body has to cooperate with the mind.  If you are simply trying to state that Federer today is a better player historically than Agassi over his career, then I definitely agree with you (the only comparison is really between Federer and Sampras), but people often forget that there was a period of time in 1999-2000 when Agassi played simply sublime tennis, the likes of which I have never seen.  A level of tennis that I would suggest neither Sampras or more recently Federer have ever reached.  Sampras was at his peak then and most definitely overmatched by a resurgent Agassi.  Agassi was in such good form, he managed to win the French Open as well, no mean feat for an American to accomplish in this day and age of dirtball specialists galore.  That same year, Agassi challenged Sampras in the final at Wimbledon and won the U.S. Open.  He followed it up by winning the Australian at the start of the next year as well.  I would take Agassi in that form over any other player at any given time, however, true greatness is measured over the long haul, and rightly so, and there Sampras certainly exceeded Agassi, whose top form only lasted a couple of years, quite unlike Sampras who managed to stay at the top for the better part of a decade.  I suppose when all is said and done, Agassi will probably be rated as maybe the 4th best player of all time behind Sampras, Federer, and Borg.

[fineleg]

Tough draw for Agassi. One of the greatest of Tennis history. Tremendous player.
Hope he does well, but whatever the outcome this time, a Great Champion!

Andre Agassi, I salute you! We should have a thread with pics, videos, articles etc for Agassi.

[poondu]

I agree 1999-2001 was the best period for Agassi. But the reason I remember the match with Fed coz after the match Agassi mentioned that this was the best he ever played and still lost and he also mentioned that Fed was better than Samp.  Regarding the all time best players, I would wait for Fed's career to be over. He could match Samp's records at the Aus,US and Wimbledon. He has already has a better record than Samp in French(Who I think has not even made it to the Semis of the French).

[ramshorns]

I think the best tennis Agassi ever played was against Federer  for a couple of sets (in the Finals/SF's a couple of years back) which he still lost.

You think that was the best he ever played in his career?  That's unlikely considering that he has definitely lost a step or two from his prime when he was just about the quickest around the court while also being an incredible strokeplayer.  In his old age, he has made up for the loss of his physical attributes with some incredible tennis nous, possibly the finest ever.  However, eventually, the body has to cooperate with the mind.  If you are simply trying to state that Federer today is a better player historically than Agassi over his career, then I definitely agree with you (the only comparison is really between Federer and Sampras), but people often forget that there was a period of time in 1999-2000 when Agassi played simply sublime tennis, the likes of which I have never seen.  A level of tennis that I would suggest neither Sampras or more recently Federer have ever reached.  Sampras was at his peak then and most definitely overmatched by a resurgent Agassi.  Agassi was in such good form, he managed to win the French Open as well, no mean feat for an American to accomplish in this day and age of dirtball specialists galore.  That same year, Agassi challenged Sampras in the final at Wimbledon and won the U.S. Open.  He followed it up by winning the Australian at the start of the next year as well.  I would take Agassi in that form over any other player at any given time, however, true greatness is measured over the long haul, and rightly so, and there Sampras certainly exceeded Agassi, whose top form only lasted a couple of years, quite unlike Sampras who managed to stay at the top for the better part of a decade.  I suppose when all is said and done, Agassi will probably be rated as maybe the 4th best player of all time behind Sampras, Federer, and Borg.

Sorry I disagree.  This is my list of greats I have seen and how I rate.
1) Borg 2)Lendl 3)Sampras 4)Federer(Not there yet)

[fineleg]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

[ramshorns]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

[ramshorns]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Fineleg:Join me, I am personally going to Arthur Ashe stadium to make sure Agassi is out and done with.   May be 2-3 times during this 2 week period.  Let me know guys if anyone else want to join.

[poondu]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

any reason why you are mentioning Agassi or for that matter Connors, Courier in this list ?

I remember the Samp crying incident vividly. But the bugger still won the match.

[ramshorns]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

any reason why you are mentioning Agassi or for that matter Connors, Courier in this list ?

I remember the Samp crying incident vividly. But the bugger still won the match.

No reason, based on observing 28 years of tennis.  It is a feeling I have.

[poondu]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Fineleg:Join me, I am personally going to Arthur Ashe stadium to make sure Agassi is out and done with.   May be 2-3 times during this 2 week period.  Let me know guys if anyone else want to join.

One of my dreams was to watch Agassi play live . Maybe I can catch him on the seniors tour if he plays.    

[ramshorns]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Fineleg:Join me, I am personally going to Arthur Ashe stadium to make sure Agassi is out and done with.   May be 2-3 times during this 2 week period.  Let me know guys if anyone else want to join.

One of my dreams was to watch Agassi play live . Maybe I can catch him on the seniors tour if he plays.    

Did'nt you move to the Jersey area.  I can pick you up and also I can get you the ticket for the event.

[poondu]

Not yet, i am stuck up in my Chicago project as of now.

[fineleg]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Fineleg:Join me, I am personally going to Arthur Ashe stadium to make sure Agassi is out and done with.   May be 2-3 times during this 2 week period.  Let me know guys if anyone else want to join.

Thanks a lot for the invite, really appreciate that.
But unfortunately I am only gonna be able to watch it on TV.
Wish you a wonderful blast at Arthur Ashe when you go there.

[pieterSAN]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Only first round matches have been scheduled. Tennis tournaments schedule each round based on results so that they can optimize their revenue.

[fineleg]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

Rams! I am being a TL here, isn't Mc the only crybaby?

[Sahir]

I agree 1999-2001 was the best period for Agassi. But the reason I remember the match with Fed coz after the match Agassi mentioned that this was the best he ever played and still lost and he also mentioned that Fed was better than Samp.  Regarding the all time best players, I would wait for Fed's career to be over. He could match Samp's records at the Aus,US and Wimbledon. He has already has a better record than Samp in French(Who I think has not even made it to the Semis of the French).

I agree with you about Federer-- he is currently on track to be the best ever (Sampras' best showing at the French was a semifinal appearance when he lost to Kafelnikov).

[fineleg]

Jiet or Sahir,
If you don't mind, can you post the TV telecast day/timings in US for Agassi matches?

Only first round matches have been scheduled. Tennis tournaments schedule each round based on results so that they can optimize their revenue.

I see. Alrite.

PS: PP-style(mock would mock, style  ), me outta dg for a few hours, be back later.

[ramshorns]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

Rams! I am being a TL here, isn't Mc the only crybaby?

Connors top's him.  Actually that came from Johnny Mc.  So that is saying a lot is'nt it.  Then Sampras is not far behind.  Agassi got better in the last few years, actually so he is better of the lot.  Like I said earlier Todd Martin is the only guy I liked.

[poondu]

I also remember Lendl being a cry baby in his match against Pat Cash in Wimbledon. You could definitely hear his voice breaking down when he argued with the linesmen and the umpire.

[Sahir]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

I hope you're kidding!  Those are some unbelievably tough athletes mentioned there, both physically and mentally.  BTW, about your all time best list, I can understand you putting Borg at the top (it was unfortunate he retired when he still had a few good years in him; that is probably the reason I place him second), but Lendl at 2?  I definitely agree that Lendl is the most underrated player in the history of the game.  You rarely hear his name mentioned along with some of the other greats, possibly because he was not quite as aesthetically pleasing or entertaining to some, but he was just as effective in his pomp.  However, I certainly cannot rate him above Sampras.  He was extremely consistent, but did not have nearly the same amount of success in the biggest matches, nor did he have near as complete an allround game as Sampras.  At the very best, I would rate Lendl 5th.  More likely, I would rate Rod Laver above Agassi as well, putting him at 4th and sliding Agassi and Lendl down to 5th and 6th.

[Sahir]

ramshorns,
How can you call Sampras a crybaby?  He was a nearly stoic character that cried one time on the court when his coach had very recently died of cancer.  I think he can be cut a bit of slack for that one.  Not to mention, that was an absolute classic match that he won.

[pieterSAN]

I think the best tennis Agassi ever played was against Federer  for a couple of sets (in the Finals/SF's a couple of years back) which he still lost.

You think that was the best he ever played in his career?  That's unlikely considering that he has definitely lost a step or two from his prime when he was just about the quickest around the court while also being an incredible strokeplayer.  In his old age, he has made up for the loss of his physical attributes with some incredible tennis nous, possibly the finest ever.  However, eventually, the body has to cooperate with the mind.  If you are simply trying to state that Federer today is a better player historically than Agassi over his career, then I definitely agree with you (the only comparison is really between Federer and Sampras), but people often forget that there was a period of time in 1999-2000 when Agassi played simply sublime tennis, the likes of which I have never seen.  A level of tennis that I would suggest neither Sampras or more recently Federer have ever reached.  Sampras was at his peak then and most definitely overmatched by a resurgent Agassi.  Agassi was in such good form, he managed to win the French Open as well, no mean feat for an American to accomplish in this day and age of dirtball specialists galore.  That same year, Agassi challenged Sampras in the final at Wimbledon and won the U.S. Open.  He followed it up by winning the Australian at the start of the next year as well.  I would take Agassi in that form over any other player at any given time, however, true greatness is measured over the long haul, and rightly so, and there Sampras certainly exceeded Agassi, whose top form only lasted a couple of years, quite unlike Sampras who managed to stay at the top for the better part of a decade.  I suppose when all is said and done, Agassi will probably be rated as maybe the 4th best player of all time behind Sampras, Federer, and Borg.

I agree 1999-2001 was the best period for Agassi. But the reason I remember the match with Fed coz after the match Agassi mentioned that this was the best he ever played and still lost and he also mentioned that Fed was better than Samp.  Regarding the all time best players, I would wait for Fed's career to be over. He could match Samp's records at the Aus,US and Wimbledon. He has already has a better record than Samp in French(Who I think has not even made it to the Semis of the French).

I agree with both of you that 1999-2000 was when Andre was simply unstoppable. Last years U.S Open was amazing. Sanguinetti vs Srichaphan, Agassi vs Blake and then Agassi vs Federer. Andre was playing some of his best tennis then, but to say that it was the best ever maybe difficult. What was truly amazing was that Federer was able to win even though he looked somehow vulnerable. There is an invincibility to him that I cannot understand. I know that in maybe 8-10 years I may be feeling even worse when Federer retires. I cannot imagine a more beautiful player of the game.

As for Andre, he is the most complete player ever - the only one to win the all four slams on different surfaces and an incredible record in masters series tournaments (probably more demanding) that dwarfs Sampras' record in them and and excellent Davis Cup record.

[pieterSAN]

I also remember Lendl being a cry baby in his match against Pat Cash in Wimbledon. You could definitely hear his voice breaking down when he argued with the linesmen and the umpire.

I remember...he said something " Who put this guy in this chair?" Lendl was a character.


 

[poondu]

I also remember Lendl being a cry baby in his match against Pat Cash in Wimbledon. You could definitely hear his voice breaking down when he argued with the linesmen and the umpire.

I remember...he said something " Who put this guy in this chair?" Lendl was a character.


 

Thats a lovely picture and quote Pietersan.    

[ramshorns]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

I hope you're kidding!  Those are some unbelievably tough athletes mentioned there, both physically and mentally.  BTW, about your all time best list, I can understand you putting Borg at the top (it was unfortunate he retired when he still had a few good years in him; that is probably the reason I place him second), but Lendl at 2?  I definitely agree that Lendl is the most underrated player in the history of the game.  You rarely hear his name mentioned along with some of the other greats, possibly because he was not quite as aesthetically pleasing or entertaining to some, but he was just as effective in his pomp.  However, I certainly cannot rate him above Sampras.  He was extremely consistent, but did not have nearly the same amount of success in the biggest matches, nor did he have near as complete an allround game as Sampras.  At the very best, I would rate Lendl 5th.  More likely, I would rate Rod Laver above Agassi as well, putting him at 4th and sliding Agassi and Lendl down to 5th and 6th.

Do you know Lendl is the only player to have played in the finals of each grandslam atleast twice(19 finals in total).  Sampras and French Open, clueless.  I am not even sure why sometimes he is even mentioned being a great, when you are clueless on one surface and 25% of the season is held on that.

All said and said Borg and Lendl are better accomplished than any of the so called American greats, so 1,2 in my books.

[ramshorns]

ramshorns,
How can you call Sampras a crybaby?  He was a nearly stoic character that cried one time on the court when his coach had very recently died of cancer.  I think he can be cut a bit of slack for that one.  Not to mention, that was an absolute classic match that he won.

Sorry he is in my books.  I have seen too many of the behind scene interviews and on talkshows to know that.  I would rather not get into that.

[poondu]

Except for Todd Martin I never liked any American Tennis players.  They are a bunch of wusses.  All of them Connors, McEnroe, Sampras, Agassi, Courier.  Bunch of cry babies.

I hope you're kidding!  Those are some unbelievably tough athletes mentioned there, both physically and mentally.  BTW, about your all time best list, I can understand you putting Borg at the top (it was unfortunate he retired when he still had a few good years in him; that is probably the reason I place him second), but Lendl at 2?  I definitely agree that Lendl is the most underrated player in the history of the game.  You rarely hear his name mentioned along with some of the other greats, possibly because he was not quite as aesthetically pleasing or entertaining to some, but he was just as effective in his pomp.  However, I certainly cannot rate him above Sampras.  He was extremely consistent, but did not have nearly the same amount of success in the biggest matches, nor did he have near as complete an allround game as Sampras.  At the very best, I would rate Lendl 5th.  More likely, I would rate Rod Laver above Agassi as well, putting him at 4th and sliding Agassi and Lendl down to 5th and 6th.

Do you know Lendl is the only player to have played in the finals of each grandslam atleast twice(19 finals in total).  Sampras and French Open, clueless.  I am not even sure why sometimes he is even mentioned being a great, when you are clueless on one surface and 25% of the season is held on that.

All said and said Borg and Lendl are better accomplished than any of the so called American greats, so 1,2 in my books.

Lendl was a highly underrated player. I think he reached 8 consecutive SEMIS or better in the US open. Despite his immense disliking for Grass he still had a very good record at Wimbledon.

I am sure his "grass is for the cows"  statement will be very much disliked  by the Nagpur Pitch curators.