Agassi 31, still going strong

Andre Agassi has continued his magnificent form this year, winning the Ericsson Open in Florida with a crushing 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-0 victory of Jan-Michael Gambill. This, along with victory at the Indian Wells tournament over Pete Sampras and the Australian Open in January means Agassi has won the 3 biggest tournaments of the year so far. With Sampras waning, could 2001 again be Agassi's year?

Over the past few years Andre Agassi has truly lived up to his awesome potential. His extraordinary talent has always been recognised ... Agassi was ranked No. 3 in the world all the way back in 1988 at age 18. But he's always been lacking in consistency, year after year. He'd have a fantastic period in which he'd win a grand slam, and then would disappear seemingly into tennis oblivion. This happened when he won Wimbledon in 1992, and then went 'walk-about.' Perhaps it was a lack of mental toughness and motivation.

When in 1994 Agassi won the U.S. Open and started a rivalry with Pete Sampras, he appeared finally to have turned the corner. In 1995 he reached the world number 1 ranking, won the Australian Open and reached the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open. He also won more ATP Tour titles than any other player that year. But after this he disappointed, having a fruitless period from 1996 to 1998. Some have blamed this on his marriage to Brooke Shields, and the distractions associated with this.

Certainly in 1999 the week that they divorced Agassi returned to form, winning a tournament in Hong Kong. He then won the only grand slam to have eluded him, the French Open; and topped the year off with victory at the U.S. Open. 2000 continued this impressive form, with wins at both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. At 31, he claims to be playing the best tennis of his life.

"I'm stronger and faster and move better," he said. "When I move better, I have more options. And I have a lot more experience to make good decisions with those options."

Agassi is not sure how long he will continue playing.

"I believe I can do this for a few more years, but I don't know. I've never been 31 before."

It is likely that his opponents on the ATP Tour will be hoping it won't be too long.

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