US OPEN

August 26, 2002

Andre Agassi

MODERATOR: Questions for Andre.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah. It was pretty humid tonight, though. That always has a certain aspect of work to it. You work hard to make a scoreline appear to be easy. But I think ultimately you always feel good with finding a way to get through and finding a way to do what you need to do. It's very rare you can win a match and not feel like there's a lot to feel good about with the way you played. Tonight was one of those cases. While there might have been an area or two I could have done better, I felt like I was, for the most part, right where I wanted to be.

ANDRE AGASSI: I felt like when I got an opportunity to seize the point, I was very quick to recognize it and execute my shot. I stayed strong on all his big shots. If I got my racquet on his big shot, he was playing pretty aggressively and dangerously, I felt like I was staying strong, and if I got my racquet there, I was redirecting it well.

ANDRE AGASSI: Just take a nap in the afternoon, prepare for a long evening. It's not an easy start time, 9:15, 9:30. I'm used to pushing away from the dinner table at that time. All of a sudden it's when you have to be at your best. You plan the couple days leading up to it around that schedule, then you just make sure you don't spend too much time spending energy thinking about the match. You think about it enough to know what you're going to do, then know that when you get out there, you're going to give it your best shot.

ANDRE AGASSI: The good news is you don't have to play a guy like Lleyton except once and late in the tournament. So there's seven guys to beat, and it's very possible I won't even have to beat him. So you always hold yourself to the standard of your opponent, and, "What do I have to do today?" With that being said, going into the French this year, it was a long time since I played a Grand Slam. I think there's always a different sort of feeling, intensity that goes into it. I gave myself a shot, but I didn't feel great about necessarily being at my best when I needed it the most. That was disappointing - as well as Wimbledon. But you do hope that your best stuff is saved for events like this. And you would want to think that it's as easy as just planning it and then working your plan. But you never know. It's a fine line, when you've played too much, when you haven't played enough. I think I'm in position to raise my game to the necessary levels these two weeks. Now it's a question of doing it, which becomes the most difficult part.

ANDRE AGASSI: It tells me you can't win seven unless you win the first one. Really that's as far as you can go. I did everything I needed to do tonight. You know, I was pretty nervous going out there, excited. I felt like I controlled everything that I wanted to do. That's a good sign. I do know it's only going to get better.

ANDRE AGASSI: We've played three times. He's gotten me once. He's a 6'5" imposing figure on the court. He brings his game at you. He makes you hit a target. He certainly has a big serve, takes a big cut at the ball if he's in position. He forces you to hit a good shot. Any time he gets a chance, he's going to get in. It's a game that you don't get to play against a lot, which means there's a place for him because guys aren't quite ready for that sort of style, somebody just getting in. I'll have to step up my game. I feel ready to do that.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think sports is all about overcoming odds and obstacles and digging down deep. I think if there's anybody that's in position to have to dig down deep at this stage, it's Michael. He's seen the top of the game for a decade, if not arguably more. Every time he's out there, it's an opportunity for him to kind of rediscover that form. So I think that's a lot to root for there.

ANDRE AGASSI: It's a big honor for me. I don't know if it's intended to be that way, but when I get that call to go out there and open up the night session, it sends shivers up my spine. I look forward to it; I enjoy it; there's no other place I'd rather be.

ANDRE AGASSI: Oh, yeah. I mean, how do you not? Being in New York, it's pretty overwhelming for I think many people who come here now. I've always appreciated the heart and the spirit of New Yorkers. I think what they've lived through in the last year has been a clear reflection of that heart and of that spirit. To be here is a privilege. To add to it is truly an honor.

ANDRE AGASSI: I saw it through a very muted TV in the locker room.

ANDRE AGASSI: It was touching. How are you not affected? How are you not reminded of all the reasons we fight so hard for freedom? It's pretty emotional every time you give a sort of ceremony that honors everything we stand for.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think it's in a slightly different context. I think they're showing tennis up there on the big screen. My concern with it originally was I didn't like giving the impression to the world that tennis needs to do something else besides tennis in order to be interesting. But in this context, I don't feel like that's the message that's being sent.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, sure it is. I think it's an added motivation being here. There's a lot of inspiration in the hearts and minds of everybody that's in this city. After seeing what happened here a year ago, it makes it quite easy to go out there and lay your heart on the line.