Agassi quiets retirement talk with lively Open run

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Andre Agassi is tired of all the
retirement talk and wants to simply let his racquet do the
talking as he takes aim at becoming the oldest U.S. Open
champion in 35 years.

“It’s all going to come to an end at one time or another.
Until that point, I want to be committed to this and see it
through,” said Agassi, who moved a step closer to his goal with
a five-set comeback win over fellow-American James Blake in the
quarters.

Thirty-five seems to be a lucky number for Agassi, who at
that ripe old tennis age has battled his way through the Open
draw with only unseeded fellow-American Robby Ginepri standing
in his way for a crack at a third Open title and ninth grand
slam singles crown.

After losing in the first round of the French Open and then
missing Wimbledon due to a chronic back problem, Agassi
appeared to be headed to his grand slam swan song in his 20th
successive trip to Flushing Meadows.

Agassi had a cortisone shot to ease his pain and then eased
back into training.

He came out swinging on the hard courts this summer and
showed he was far from through by winning Los Angeles and
finishing runner-up in Montreal.

“You never know when it’s your last go,” Agassi said after
his thrilling fight back Wednesday after losing the first two
sets to Blake.

“I’ve been around long enough to know how short-lived all
of this is.”

Agassi said he was surprised by his own sudden turnabout.

“It’s pretty amazing. It just feels great. The time I spent
during Wimbledon at home, just not knowing if I’ll play again,
let alone be ready in just a few weeks’ time.”

Agassi, U.S. Open champion in 1999 and 1994, is the oldest
U.S. Open semi-finalist since a 39-year-old Jimmy Connors
reached the last four in 1991.

Two more match wins would make Agassi the oldest U.S. Open
champion since 35-year-old Ken Rosewall in 1970.

The Las Vegas showman said he does not know how much longer
he will continue to compete, and sometimes sounds like it is
out of his own hands.

“I come off the court and many times in my career I just
feel like it’s been a dream. And that’s the way it feels here.
It’s a dream for me to be doing this.”