TennisOne Lessons

Agassi Aims to Dethrone World's Number 1:

Has the "Lean and Hungry Look"

Jim McLennan, Senior Editor, TennisONE

Andre Agassi dismantled Peter Sampras ( 6-2, 6-4) in the final of the San Jose Sybase Open. Dictating play with relentless backcourt tennis, Andre hit huge forehands, pinpoint backhands, and consistent big serves. Where Pete glided, Andre pounced, moving catlike quick to pulverize anything within his reach. Pete never attacked the chink in Andre's armor, his second serve. Instead, Pete's returns were mostly chipped with little offensive intent. As the match wore on, Sampras listless performance paid tribute to Agassi's all-court dominance.

Match statistics - the return of serve tells the story

• Agassi first serve points won 25 of 32 = 78% (2 aces)
• Agassi second serve points won 14 of 21 = 67%
• Andre's second serve is suspect, serving once at 65 mph in the second set, yet Pete applied no consistent pressure against this element of Andre's game
• Break points saved by Agassi 2 of 2
  
• Sampras first serve points won 29 of 40 = 73% (17 aces)
• Sampras second serve points won 10 of 26 = 38%
• Break points saved by Sampras 5 of 8

Pete needed 5 aces to hold serve in the opening game. In the second game Andre served just 50% of his first serves and still held. Pete was broken three times in the match: 1) In the third game he served no aces and was broken; 2) in the fifth game he served no aces and was broken again; 3) and finally in the fifth game of the second set he served one ace and two double faults and was broken.

The Agassi-Sampras Rivalry

• Their rivalry began in 1989 at the Italian Open (Agassi 6-2 ,6-1)
• Sampras leads overall in the series 12-8
• Agassi won Australian Open final 1995 4-6 ,6-1, 7-6 (6), 6-4
• Sampras has won 5 of their last 7 matches
• Sampras has won the last 3 matches at 6-2 6-3, 6-4 6-1, and 6-2 6-1

Is Agassi ready to stage a serious challenge to Sampras' throne this year? Agassi has obviously regained the passion for the game that went on a honeymoon break during the courtship and marriage to Brook Shields. "I have done a lot of hard work with the weights, cardio, the knife and fork, playing at least two hours of tennis each and every day." Agassi is obviously regaining the confidence level of a champion. "I can win a slam this year, I can achieve the number 1 ranking," said Agassi. But Agassi is not there yet. He knows he has to beat Sampras in a bigger match before his challenge can be taken seriously either by himself or his fans. But if Andre plays with continued passion this year, I say, "Watch out Emperor Sampras, Andre (Cassius) has that lean and hungry look!"

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