Andre Agassi is one of the greatest legends in the sport of tennis, with few players encapsulating such determination and desire when out on the court.
Before Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal took tennis into a different dimension, Agassi had some breathtaking moments on a tennis court with fellow American Pete Sampras.
Agassi retired in 2006 after knowing the time was right. He devoted many years to the sport, however, and showed dogged determination and brilliant skill across his professional career.
As with any player who has sat on top of their respective field, there was a time when Agassi felt he was at his unplayable best and for someone who won eight Grand Slam titles, there are plenty of periods to choose from.
He won the title on four occasions in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003, with his victory in 2004 coming under the watchful eye of renowned coach Darren Cahill.
The Aussie master is currently working with Jannik Sinner, but in 2003, he was working with Agassi as he won the Australian Open title for the fourth time in his career.
It was the performance in the final that Agassi later confessed was the best he’d ever played in any match across his entire career.
He told Tennis Now: I couldn’t miss anything. I was playing games with my coach Darren Cahill. He could hold serve randomly against me, no doubt. But I was on a 28-game win streak against y coach for that fortnight.
“It was like I just couldn’t miss a ball. To put it together in the finals, the way I did, especially with my coach being an Australian and being in Australia, was one of the most satisfying wins I’ve ever had.”
Agassi destroys Rainer Schuttler in 2003 Australian Open final
Schuttler only reached one major final in tennis and he’s unlikely to forget it in a hurry but for all the wrong reasons.
Agassi was simply unplayable and produced a dominant performance in one of the most one-sided Grand Slam finals in the history of the sport.
The American won in comprehensive fashion, claiming a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory in the fifth shortest Grand Slam final in history with just 23 games played.
Scuttler had beaten David Nalbandian and Andy Roddick to reach the final, but had absolutely no answer to Agassi on that fateful day in his career.
Maybe the German will feel better knowing that Agassi believes that’s the best he’s ever played and the American’s legacy still live on in the sport of tennis.
