U.S. OPEN

August 31, 1995

Andre Agassi

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I think one of strengths to his game, if not his biggest strength, is the fact that he is going to run down a lot of balls and make you hit a couple of extra every points if your timing is a little off; instead of hitting two good shots, you have to hit four or five. It creates problems. I knew early on in the match that I was in for a long evening. It was one of those that I had to get through just by sheer determination.

ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, it was big, he was struggling physically, though, there is no question about it. I knew that I could break him down. I wouldn't have been too discouraged had I not broken back in the fifth. But I have to say it is nice to get a lead on somebody when they are starting to get a bit fatigued versus them having that daylight at the end of the tunnel, so I broke back, that was important, but I would have preferred not losing my serving in the first place.

ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, this is the U.S. Open, man, every seat was packed. By the fifth set everybody had at least two or three beers in them. It was rockin.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, he hit a volley over my head and I started running back for it, and I didn't have too many options; got to get creative. I felt like it was high enough. I could generate some pace and would probably shock him a little bit because he was -- a lot of people anticipate that kind of trick between the legs or maybe throw up a high lob or something, but I had a little pace and I happened to make it.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, that shot, I had no other option. That could have been matchpoint. I was taking the same shot.

ANDRE AGASSI: I never really thought about it, you know, I just -- I just try to, you know, wing it and come up with shots as I go. Hopefully, you will see some more of them. You should name it. I think it would be more appropriate if you named it.

ANDRE AGASSI: I have hit that shot a couple of times. I mean, you don't have too many option options. It is not like you have a lot of opportunities with that shot. You know, the ball has to be at a perfect trajectory, I mean, sometimes you are better off going between the legs. For example, against Chang, matchpoint, you know, I mean, the ball was too low to get there, and you just get creative; you really don't think much about anything except just kind of reacting.

ANDRE AGASSI: It slipped away from me. Whenever you are fighting up hill the whole match and you get that one opportunity, I mean, I had never really been up the entire match. He was -- served first in the first set all the way until he broke me for the set. It was like, you know, I won the second; lost my serve first game of the third. It was like it was finally the opportunity with one point to get on top, and that is when you feel like you can beat the guy 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-1, and all of a sudden, you know, get a little over anxious. You hit three big shots; you miss one; you end up losing your serve. I mean, I didn't feel great about a lot of that stuff out there tonight.

ANDRE AGASSI: I was pissed. Just pissed off. I mean, 11 o'clock at night I shouldn't be out there.

ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, geez, when things aren't going your way, you are down two sets to Love,; you know you are a lot closer to it than you were three hours ago. But you don't really deal with that because all I am thinking is, you know, I want to make this guy play the set of his life to beat me here, and you are not worried about losing; you are worried about winning.

ANDRE AGASSI: It is not just so much that. I think in the past I have always had a tendency to believe if I am playing this way that means that if Corretja doesn't beat; certainly Edberg will or certainly the next guy will. It is like, you know, I think now I am in my game to the place where I know I can come out here and not feel great and turnaround and play some of my best tennis. I have done it before; a lot now, so that makes the whole difference.

ANDRE AGASSI: I think, sure, you are -- sure, you know, the guy is ranked 20. He is not seeded. That is where I was last year. It is difficult to play a guy who, in a sense, believes that he can win every match if he is playing his best tennis. It is going to be tough, but the bottom line is you got to beat the best players in the world to win this tournament. If I plan on winning this tournament, bring him on, I mean, what the hell am I here for?

ANDRE AGASSI: I know I am still in the event; that means I still have a shot at winning it. Thanks a lot.

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