An Interview with Andre Agassi

　　Q. What was the most difficult thing?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I suppose I suppose the most difficult thing and frustrating thing was the only chance that I had was actually break back to get into the set. I mean, you give a guy like that a lead and, you know, he can stretch it pretty quick. I wasn't picking up his serve well tonight. He served close to the lines, so you get a lot of free points there. You know, I mean, he just outplayed me. It was too good.

　　Q. What is the sort of difference between his game and the rest of everyone else's game, just in percentage terms?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: Well, he does everything well and a lot of things great. I mean, his movement is probably the most underrated part of his game, and that's right up there with the best of them. His forehand is one of the biggest. His serve is very accurate, great hold game, gets a lot of balls back in the court in return games, puts pressure on you, plays with versatility, comes in, slice, high topspins and drives through the court. So there's a lot he does out there. I mean, you know, I preferred him slicing to me, but he has other options.

　　Q. So what's your advice to his next couple of opponents?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: I would suggest that his next opponents don't look to me for advice. That would be my advice (smiling).

　　Q. Good Open for you?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: Yes, you know, it's disappointing. I've spent a lot of years coming down here and having some real memorable matches and leaving with the trophy, you know. But I wanted tonight to be memorable. But it's one I'd probably prefer to forget.

　　Q. You've seen a lot of guys in your career. People are starting to talk about Roger as somebody who's going to be an all time great. Where do you place him right now in the experiences you have, Sampras, the end of Connors, Edberg, these kind of people, Becker? Where do you place him right now?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: Well, it's not something really that's fair to do, to compare sort of greats. Everybody brings to the table their own strengths and weaknesses and how they match up. There's a lot of times on given days. But he plays the game beautifully. I mean, the expectation for him to be one of the greats is certainly understandable.

　　Q. Do you have any inkling right now whether you'll be back here next year?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: No. That would be my plan, but a year's a long time.

　　Q. Would you say that on clay you'd have more chances against a player like him with a game which is probably slower or not?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: I don't know. You know, past few years on the clay haven't been terribly kind to me. I've done this a long time, and the clay seems to be the toughest as I get older.

　　Q. What's your upcoming schedule, what do you think?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, hard to say right now. You know, we're going to sort of you know me. I have to play it by ear and make some good decisions. But my schedule at the moment is San Jose, Dubai, Palm Springs, Key Biscayne.

　　Q. Do you think he'll win the tournament?

　　ANDRE AGASSI: It would be silly not to favor him.