COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 9, 1994

Andre Agassi

ANDRE AGASSI: He gave me a warning for an obscenity that I mean -- obscenities are going on a lot. I mean, I think -- you need to be somewhat -- somewhat -- I mean, it's a judgment call. But at some stage, you got to really determine if, you know, if you were the only one that heard it, and if you were the one that was looking for it or if it was really clear enough for it to be a bad mark on the sport. And I just think that a lot of times these guys don't make the right call because they are looking straight at your mouth, and they are, in a sense, waiting for you to say something, and I don't -- and so he gave me the warning. I said it again, I got really upset and got a point penalty. Then I said it again, but he wouldn't default me, you know.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, I was pissed off. I mean, I wasn't thinking straight. I mean, I certainly -- I don't want to be defaulted, but I think it is kind of ironic that he will give me a point penalty but not default me.

ANDRE AGASSI: I was very mad. I wasn't challenging anybody. I was just reacting. I was upset.

ANDRE AGASSI: That was very unfortunate; wasn't it? Just Larsson served so big, I caught that damn thing so late that it went straight towards him. That was really unfortunate.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I do. I think, first of all, they shouldn't have that many microphones on the court so that they are even inviting that to be a problem. I mean, if I am back with my towel, and I say something into the towel, you know, 300 countries can hear it - But the umpire can't - so I don't get a warning. You know, I mean, I just absolutely think that they need to remove the microphones from the court or certainly the sensitivity of them and relax a little bit. If I am causing a scene out there, it is one thing, but they just have nothing to do. This is the only sport where the umpire is not actually a part of the game. Every other sport, the umpire is making the calls; this guy just sits up there. He keeps score; twice a match he overrules and he calls "not-ups" when the ball bounces twice and occasionally a let. I mean, it is tough to respect somebody who is not part of the game.

ANDRE AGASSI: Excuse me?

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, you know, he can, but fortunately he has to discuss it with the supervisor and, you know, in most cases, the supervisor has more sense, you know, but I'd either like to see the umpires be a part of the game -- get them down on the lines moving around, calling some balls themselves.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, you know, it cost me a point penalty in the first set. I felt like I didn't pull myself together until the second set. I mean, I had -- didn't feel like -- I mean, I felt like Larsson was playing well and, you know -- and so who knows if it would have changed the outcome of the match, but it cost me the first set and a lot of frustration, and -- but that is something I have to live with. I mean, that is the way it is out there, and I got to accept that.

ANDRE AGASSI: Let me say this: If it didn't happen, I'd have a much better chance of being in the semis. But that doesn't mean I would sit here and say because he did this I lost. That is not accepting responsibilities for yourself. I mean, I lost the match. He played better than me; he beat me - period. That is it.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, I mean, I have seen him -- I have seen him play before, and I know he can play well. I mean, I definitely don't feel like I was on top of my game by any means. I didn't feel like I was moving well. I think I felt a little weak from the cold that I have been fighting off, and so I wasn't as sharp as I could be. When guys hit that big off the ground, you got to run down a few balls and make him do it a few times. I felt like I could have done that better, but it didn't surprise me at all.

ANDRE AGASSI: I mean, I could sit here and guess as to what his reasons are. I mean, I don't know, but I definitely know that he was very quick to give me a point penalty, but the same thing happened again, and he wasn't so quick to default me, and --

ANDRE AGASSI: No. No, I don't think you should be able to "let go." I don't think you should be held accountable to things you say at a certain level. I think, there is way too many microphones on the court, and, you know, they don't want the people to hear it on the TV, then get the microphones off the court. You know, it goes on. I mean, like I said, I could be back at my towel and say something and not get a warning and none of you will be asking me these questions, but a lot of countries across this planet would be going, you know, "I didn't appreciate my kids hearing that." And I don't think I should swear. My first choice is to be in complete control of myself. But there are times where -- when the frustration level -- and it does happen -- and all I am saying is what do we do about that? I just don't think there should be that many microphones on the court.

ANDRE AGASSI: I don't understand your question.

ANDRE AGASSI: So do you have a problem with me saying the "F-word" or do you have a problem with people hearing me saying the "F-word"?

ANDRE AGASSI: So, you wish you were my parent then; is that what it is? I think you need to think about it a little bit more. It is not -- the reality of it is that the most important thing is that people don't hear it. Okay. And if you put the mic-- why don't we attach a microphone under our shirt; why don't we do that? Then you can really catch us if we say it, huh?

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, that is a beautiful thing about Germany, you can have an opinion, huh? I mean, I don't agree.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, it is your opinion. My opinion is quite different.

ANDRE AGASSI: Sorry. Are your asking me a question?

ANDRE AGASSI: I was hoping you'd come to that conclusion.

ANDRE AGASSI: No -- I don't know why this is such a big deal. I have made it clear. He heard me say it. But the reality of it is that a lot of times, umpire will look straight at you; they are picking up on things that maybe the television isn't and maybe other people aren't. And then if the television is picking up on it -- I mean, I think we need to consider it not being so sensitive. You can't breathe out there without everybody hearing it. I mean, the first choice is not to say it. The second choice is -- the reality of it is, it does happen. I am sorry. I wish I could control myself better all the time. And I wish I can control everybody else better all the time. But that is not the reality. The reality is it happens. And because it happens, I don't think there should be as many microphones on the court.

ANDRE AGASSI: What do you mean?

ANDRE AGASSI: I think so.

ANDRE AGASSI: There is one at the umpire's chair; one on the net cord; one in the back on both corners, and you got them all over than the place.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, John--

ANDRE AGASSI: No. I mean, I think they added more. I think with the ATP Tour, I think more microphones came on, I think, back in 1990 or something. I remember it got a lot more -- it became much more of an issue and before every match the umpires were telling you, now, listen, we got a microphone here and microphone there.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yes, very much so.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, it was under my breath. It was just to myself.

ANDRE AGASSI: No. I got to start preparing, you know, I mean, I think I have had a little rest between Frankfurt and here, but it is time to start preparing now for Australia. The unfortunate thing is we don't have that off-season so you can't afford to really sit down for a few weeks; you got to keep moving and keep planning, and working to go further else you fall behind, so I am starting my preparation for Australia right away.

ANDRE AGASSI: Probably about the 7th of January.

ANDRE AGASSI: 30-Love, serving at Love-1; played a few loose points. He hit a couple of big shots, I mean, then -- I mean, I was completely discouraged after he got up that second break. I felt like I didn't feel like I had as much energy as I wanted. I didn't feel like I was moving as well as I could have, and, you know, and it took it's toll in the third set. I mean, but he hit some big shots on the line and, you know, he picked up his game and I didn't answer it.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, you know what, I think he controlled most of the points, so you always look like you are moving better when you are controlling the points. I mean, speed is definitely not his strength, but he does move well for somebody his size. But I think that if I could utilize my strengths against him; then maybe we could see a little bit more in his footwork, how good it is, but today he was controlling the points and that was the key for him.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, I didn't feel like I was moving well today.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I think you are always looking to improve. I want to get a little quicker. I feel like when I am playing well, I am moving really well and I can move well better all the time. I can move better every match -- I feel like, you know, I can always move better. I feel like that is one thing -- that is one thing that -- I am so used to controlling most of the points that a lot of times I am a little more lackadaisical in my movement than I care to be, so I am going to focus on that and focus on a few other strategic parts of my game that I don't really care to mention but you will hopefully see it in Australia.

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, you know, to me, winning the Grand Slams is the most important thing. I'd like to win Australia and I'd like to win the French. I have never done that. So, you know, being No. 1 is something that I think has to happen because of all the things that you are accomplishing and all the things that you are managing to improve on. So being No. 1 isn't really a goal. It is kind of, in my opinion, like I have always said a by-product if how you are improving on your game. So we are going to start with Australia and hopefully we can get that one under our belt this year. It is my first time playing there, so I am excited to see how I respond to it.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yes.

ANDRE AGASSI: No, he is not here.