Australian Open Legends – Andre Agassi
The Australian Open is a little more than a month away, and here at TennisPAL we’re super excited for the first Grand Slam of the year. As we get closer to the tournament, we’ll be profiling players that have excelled down under. And what a better way to start this series off than by profiling Andre Agassi, who held the best record at the Australian Open before two guys named Djokovic and Federer came along.
Andre Agassi won a total of four Australian Open titles. He posted a 90.6% winning percentage, which actually bests Novak’s 90.4% winning percentage down under. Interestingly, Andre did not play at the Australian Open for the first eight years of his career. His first title came the very first time he played the event, in 1995. He would go on to also win in 2000, 2001, and 2003. Let’s check out each title!
1995 Australian Open: This title may very well be the most blockbuster out of the four, and the reason being was because he was playing Pete Sampras, his biggest rival. Agassi was coming off his 1994 US Open win and was on a roll. He was seeded number two. Sampras was the number one player in the world. In the end, Agassi would win in four tough sets. This would be the only Grand Slam final Andre would beat Pete in. 4-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4.
2000 Australian Open: Andre was the number one seed, cementing his dominance after winning both the French Open and the US Open in 1999. In the final, he would meet the number two player in the world, and defending Australian Open champion, Yevgeny Kafelnikov. In the end Agassi would prove too much in the Australian heat and would win his second Australian Open. 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
2001 Australian Open: Agassi was the number sixth seed. No matter though, as Andre would breeze through the Australian Open draw once again up until the semifinals, where he would meet Australian hopeful Patrick Rafter. They would play one of the all-time classic five set matches in the history of the Australian Open. Unfortunately for the hometown hero, it would be Agassi who would prevail. In the final, Agassi would not be tested, as he quickly disposed of number 15 seed Arnaud Clement. 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
2003 Australian Open: Andre would come in as the number two seed and would dominate the field from the get-go. An example of his dominance would be the thrashing of his second-round opponent, Lee Hyung. Hyung would only win one game in three sets! In the final he would meet the 31st seed Reiner Shuttler, who seemed to just be happy to be there. Agassi made quick work of him to win his last Grand Slam. 6-2, 6-2, 6-1.
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