THE SCOOP: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10

Agassi is ready to slam the majors in 2003

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM THE AMERICAN AIRLINES ARENA, MIAMI – While Andre Agassi insists he has a few more weeks to start worrying about the upcoming 2003 season, the 32-year-old American who ended this year as No. 2 indicated he isn't planning on curbing his schedule anytime in the near future.

Clearly, Agassi still competes at the highest echelon of the game and for the moment sees no reason to play less or to stop playing just because some people think he's old enough to consider retirement. He's already looking forward to another year on the tour and has his first sights on the Australian Open, which he has won on three previous occasions.

"My goal is to always be at my best for the biggest events, which is a lot easier said than done," said Agassi, after being rocked by Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-3 in the Rock-n-Racquets charity exhibition to benefit the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation and the Boy's and Girl's Clubs of America. "All guys have to make decisions where they are physically and mentally. The older you get the more you have to juggle so I have to resign myself to the fact that I've got to make a lot of calls as they go along."

SLAM DISAPPOINTMENTS IN THE PAST
As far as can be discerned, Agassi's head still is strained on adding Grand Slam trophies to the seven he already owns and his disappointments at the majors this year has left him hungrier to obtain another crown jewel next year. Despite failing to pick up a Slam trophy in 2002, his season was anything but a bust as he nearly capped it off by being the oldest year-ending No. 1 and did win five of his 54 career titles.

"I had a lot of great moments this year but the biggest moment I think was waiting for me at the Slams," said Agassi, who missed defending his Australian Open title because of a wrist injury, made the Roland Garros quarterfinals, was upset in the second round of Wimbledon by Paradorn Srichaphan, and fell to Pete Sampras in the US Open final. "It started off rough in Australia and it ended tough coming so close at the US Open. I did find it disappointing but at the same time motivating. There's a lot I could take from it. A lot to look forward to next year."

Agassi, however, wasn't above a little humor when discussing how he might fair better at some of the Grand Slams when he suggested that it could be time for old nemesis Sampras to call it quits.

"My gut feeling is I hope he doesn't [come back]," joked Agassi, noting that Sampras is in the midst of deciding whether to retire. "I could do without playing him. He has decisions on his hands that are real big. Like I said when he was 'struggling' and everybody was sort of writing him off, I said the guy has earned the right to play the game on his terms. If he wants to go out there and play and lose or go out there and play or win or not play at all, I think he's earned that right. I think we the least we can all do is pay respect to the time he has to make that decision."

RODDICK JOKES ABOUT OTHERS' RETIREMENTS

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

Listening intently to Agassi, Roddick actually came up with what he humorously believed to be a winning idea to help his own cause of living up to a reputation as the male heir apparent to Agassi and Sampras, smilingly suggesting, "Why don't both of you leave?"

But in reality Roddick knows that while he whipped Agassi in their exhibition match that night, the last time they played for real at the San Jose tournament in February, Agassi had the clear advantage, winning in two convincing sets.

"He finished No. 2 in the world and didn't play in a couple of Master Series events and the Aussie Open," said Roddick, of the seven-time Grand Slam champion sitting to his left. "Anyway, he still finished No. 2 in the world and that speaks for itself."

Interestingly, Agassi said he hasn't spoken with Sampras since the record 14-time Grand Slam champion became a daddy for the first time last month. When asked if he didn't think that being Jaden Gil's daddy for the past 13 months might put him in a great position to provide Sampras with some tips on fatherhood, such as on diapering Christian Charles Sampras, Agassi laughingly said, "Good Luck," indicating he might not have perfected that art yet, either.

Speaking of babies, Agassi told tennisreporters.net that persistent rumors that he and wife, Steffi Graf, are expecting a second child are not true. "I think I would know about it and I don't," he said. "Truthfully, I'm not sure I'd tell you if it was true, but I'm telling you it isn't. People have been saying that for the last six months but I don't know anything about it."