Agassi Won

Andre Agassi saved the U.S. Davis Cup team from an embarrassing collapse. His Czechoslovak opponent fell apart instead.Agassi beat Karel Novacek, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0, 6-0, giving the Americans a shaky 3-2 quarterfinal victory yesterday at the PTC Sonesta Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Fla.Before Agassi won, the U.S. team was in danger of blowing a 2-0 lead for the first time since 1960. The Czechoslovaks upset John McEnroe and Rick Leach in doubles Saturday, then drew even in yesterday's first singles match when Petr Korda beat Pete Sampras in four sets.

NEW YORK - James Blake listened intently to the news that he had just become the first African-American man since Rodney Harmon in 1982 to make the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, and then confessed, a bit sheepishly, "Really? I didn't know that." He smiled. Not as broadly as he had after coming from behind yesterday to defeat Tommy Robredo, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3. But there was no mistaking the pride. Tomorrow, and undoubtedly in a made-for-television night match against his childhood idol, Andre Agassi, Blake can bring himself very close to transcending tennis and becoming something of a legendary American sports figure.

WIMBLEDON, England -- This was what the grass courts of Wimbledon were made for.The game wasn't a five-set thriller or even a matchup of serve-and-volley specialists.But on Centre Court, Americans Andre Agassi and Aaron Krickstein contrived to use every inch allowed between the stark white lines to their advantage.Their rallies stretched individual games to seven deuces and more, and lengthened their match deep into the fading light.Finally, with rain beginning to pelt the court, Agassi made a final stretched-out backhand for a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)

WASHINGTON -- Historic moments are piling up for Andre Agassi this year.His French Open victory came first and brought with it the recognition of becoming the fifth man in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a career.Yesterday, at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Agassi won the D.C. tournament for the fifth time, successfully defending last year's title by beating Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1."You don't know this," Agassi said to the crowd as he accepted a large crystal bowl and a check for $99,000, "but when I first played here in 1986, it was incredibly hot and I lost in the first round, 6-0, in the third set."

PARIS -- During the course of a long afternoon at the French Open, Andre Agassi had undergone a slow, brutal transformation. He began yesterday's championship final a flashy, adroit tennis player, clearly the master of his opponent. He ended it a wreck.He wrecked on the modest skills of fellow American Jim Courier, who can perform not one tennis skill as well as Agassi. And he wrecked against his own nervous, error-laden play, falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 1-6, 4-6. It was Agassi's third loss to an underdog in a Grand Slam final in the past year.

WASHINGTON -- Andre Agassi, who said, "I felt like I played well," after an opening victory in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, found out just how faulty first impressions can be last night.After Agassi won a first-set tiebreaker against 15th seed Patrick Rafter of Australia, his game was last seen departing Rock Creek Park at about 8: 30 p.m.Nine straight games the No. 3-ranked player in the world lost, first being shut out in the second set, 6-0, then being cuffed around again in the third, 6-2.Then, in an even bigger upset, South African qualifer Neville Godwin continued his giant-killer number, defeating third seed Jim Courier, 6-4, 6-4, in the nightcap.

WASHINGTON -- After Andre Agassi lost the first set last night to Brett Steven, a fan screamed, "Don't tank now, Andre!"It is unclear whether Agassi was giving his all in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, but he lost to the 25-year-old New Zealander, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, before 6,741 at the Stadium Court of the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center."

Top-seeded Agassi wins 2nd PrudentialTop-seeded Andre Agassi overcame blistering midday heat and the power game of Derrick Rostagno for a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory yesterday in the final of the Prudential Securities Tennis Classic.Agassi earned $32,400 with his first tournament victory of the year. Agassi won the event in 1989.The first set was a rout for Agassi, who belted the ball crisply past, around and through Rostagno, picking up service breaks in the fifth and seventh games. Fourth-seeded Rostagno, 25, seemed to flounder in the 100-plus degree courtside temperatures, making numerous unforced errors.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Andre Agassi may never be humble or modest, but he knows how to put on a show, even while conforming to the ancient rules of the All England Club. With his big forehand and giant ego, Agassi returned to Wimbledon yesterday to produce a major upset. He wore white.No, Agassi did not boldly violate the dress code that has governed The Championships almost as long as there's been an England. In his first appearance since an opening-round loss as a rookie in 1987, he was dressed completely in an ivory-colored outfit that did not challenge the regulations or, for that matter, the imagination.

WASHINGTON -- Historic moments are piling up for Andre Agassi this year.His French Open victory came first and brought with it the recognition of becoming the fifth man in tennis history to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a career.Yesterday, at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Agassi won the D.C. tournament for the fifth time, successfully defending last year's title by beating Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1."You don't know this," Agassi said to the crowd as he accepted a large crystal bowl and a check for $99,000, "but when I first played here in 1986, it was incredibly hot and I lost in the first round, 6-0, in the third set."

WASHINGTON -- Andre Agassi, who said, "I felt like I played well," after an opening victory in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, found out just how faulty first impressions can be last night.After Agassi won a first-set tiebreaker against 15th seed Patrick Rafter of Australia, his game was last seen departing Rock Creek Park at about 8: 30 p.m.Nine straight games the No. 3-ranked player in the world lost, first being shut out in the second set, 6-0, then being cuffed around again in the third, 6-2.Then, in an even bigger upset, South African qualifer Neville Godwin continued his giant-killer number, defeating third seed Jim Courier, 6-4, 6-4, in the nightcap.

NEW YORK -- Unseeded Andre Agassi has been saying it from the beginning. He issued warnings.Storm warnings."I'm playing well," he said. "I'm moving along. I can win the U.S. Open. Watch out."No. 6 seed Michael Chang didn't watch out enough yesterday, and Agassi proved a point to himself while delivering a painful five-set defeat to his longtime rival, 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.Going into the showdown on Stadium Court yesterday, even Agassi wasn't sure if he could back up his big talk.

WASHINGTON -- After Andre Agassi lost the first set last night to Brett Steven, a fan screamed, "Don't tank now, Andre!"It is unclear whether Agassi was giving his all in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, but he lost to the 25-year-old New Zealander, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, before 6,741 at the Stadium Court of the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center."

WIMBLEDON, England -- This was what the grass courts of Wimbledon were made for.The game wasn't a five-set thriller or even a matchup of serve-and-volley specialists.But on Centre Court, Americans Andre Agassi and Aaron Krickstein contrived to use every inch allowed between the stark white lines to their advantage.Their rallies stretched individual games to seven deuces and more, and lengthened their match deep into the fading light.Finally, with rain beginning to pelt the court, Agassi made a final stretched-out backhand for a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)

WIMBLEDON, England -- Image isn't everything for Andre Agassi anymore. There is now substance, too, and more significantly, a first Grand Slam title to go along with all those television commercials.Agassi, whose up-and-down tennis career had been marred by memorable collapses in major championships, won the 106th Wimbledon yesterday more on grit than glitz, surviving a tension-filled five-set men's final with Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia.After losing his three previous Grand Slam finals, Agassi won on the same grass courts that he chose to skip for three straight years earlier in his career.

Andre Agassi saved the U.S. Davis Cup team from an embarrassing collapse. His Czechoslovak opponent fell apart instead.Agassi beat Karel Novacek, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0, 6-0, giving the Americans a shaky 3-2 quarterfinal victory yesterday at the PTC Sonesta Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Fla.Before Agassi won, the U.S. team was in danger of blowing a 2-0 lead for the first time since 1960. The Czechoslovaks upset John McEnroe and Rick Leach in doubles Saturday, then drew even in yesterday's first singles match when Petr Korda beat Pete Sampras in four sets.

WIMBLEDON, England -- Image isn't everything for Andre Agassi anymore. There is now substance, too, and more significantly, a first Grand Slam title to go along with all those television commercials.Agassi, whose up-and-down tennis career had been marred by memorable collapses in major championships, won the 106th Wimbledon yesterday more on grit than glitz, surviving a tension-filled five-set men's final with Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia.After losing his three previous Grand Slam finals, Agassi won on the same grass courts that he chose to skip for three straight years earlier in his career.

WASHINGTON -- Listen to Andre Agassi these days, and he gives the impression that playing second fiddle in the world of tennis is beginning to disturb him."I came into this summer focused, and I want to do well," Agassi said last night after defeating David Pate, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round of the Sovran Bank Classic at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. "I've been put in a position where I have to."That's how you feel when you've been one of the top players in the world the past four years, only to watch guys like Jim Courier (1991 French Open champion)

WASHINGTON -- After winning his second straight Sovran Bank Classic, Andre Agassi wouldn't apologize for the relative ease with which he stormed through the field.Yesterday's victim was Petr Korda, whom Agassi defeated, 6-3, 6-2, to earn the $77,000 top prize.In staying on the court for just 5 hours, 20 minutes during the tournament -- yesterday's match took 1:05 -- Agassi won every set he played for the second straight year."I got through everybody rather easily, but I wouldn't expect to do that next week or next year here," Agassi said.

WASHINGTON -- Listen to Andre Agassi these days, and he gives the impression that playing second fiddle in the world of tennis is beginning to disturb him."I came into this summer focused, and I want to do well," Agassi said last night after defeating David Pate, 6-4, 6-3, in the second round of the Sovran Bank Classic at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center. "I've been put in a position where I have to."That's how you feel when you've been one of the top players in the world the past four years, only to watch guys like Jim Courier (1991 French Open champion)