Tennis icons turn out for SLC tournament


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SALT LAKE CITY — Just before Andre Agassi stepped onto the court to take on former world No. 1 Jim Courier, the lights went out at the PowerShares tennis series. The Huntsman Center went quiet.

As the accolades ran off the announcer’s tongue — “eight-time Grand Slam winner, two-time Davis Cup Champion, Olympic gold medalist, held the world No. 1 ranking for 101 weeks during his career, earning over $31 million in career tour earnings — the crowd’s electricity grew.

When the introduction ended and the lights came back on, Agassi stood behind the baseline, steadying himself for a single-match semifinal against the four-time Grand Slam winner. Amongst a group of tennis legends that also included James Blake and Mark Philippoussis, the crowd left no question who was their favorite Tuesday night.

In the semi, Agassi found a way for enough forehand winners to break Courier’s serve three times en route to a 6-3 victory.

“I love thinking about the game, I love the problem solving,” Agassi said. “Hitting the ball still feels pretty natural.”

Even with a touch and feel reminiscent of his best, Agassi isn’t of the same vintage as he was at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics or 1999 U.S. Open; even legends lose athleticism to Father Time.


I love thinking about the game, I love the problem solving. Hitting the ball still feels pretty natural.

–Andre Agassi


“Oh my gosh, I miss being just so in tune with your body,” Agassi said. “When you’re playing (professionally), you body is your instrument. So you’re always aware of its capacities, its capabilities. You make those adjustments and you have options. Now you hope that everything fits into only that what you can do, and that’s ball strike.”

Philippoussis beat Blake 6-3 in the semis, and the final between Agassi and Philippoussis went down to the wire. The one-set match ended only after Agassi retired three rackets to broken strings. Agassi then raided the Australian's tennis bag before returning to the court in the final stanza.

"The scariest thought I had was, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy’s going to beat me with my own racket,' ’’ Philippoussis said. In the end, the big-serving Australian had just enough to pull ahead in the final-tie break to win 7-6 (7-4).

During the match, Agassi had several chances to break the former Wimbledon and U.S. Open finalist's serve. He didn’t convert.

“With Mark, you have to execute on the right points,” Agassi said after the match.

“The best thing is, Andre’s competitive,” Philippoussis said. “He hit some unbelievable shots out there. When you play a tie-breaker like that, anything can happen. I got a little bit lucky. That’s it.”

Players find new challenges, new focus

The four men on court Tuesday forged their identities on center court. All have since found serenity off it away from the ascetic focus that the sport once demanded.

“For me it’s a very natural, very beautiful transition,” Philippoussis said. “I’ve got a lot of incredible things going on. I’m a husband now and a father now. I couldn’t be in a better place.”

The newest retiree, Blake has spent the days since retiring after the 2013 U.S. Open catching up with family and friends — and running his charity, the James Blake Foundation. Stomach and lung cancer took Blake’s father in 2004. Today, Blake partners his charity with the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to further early cancer detection.

Agassi says you won’t find him on the court very often in Las Vegas with his tennis Hall of Fame wife Steffi Graf — but that doesn’t mean he’s slowing down.

“Retirement isn’t in the cards for me,” Agassi said. “I’m working across the board. It has a lot less to do with tennis, so it’s cool for me to come out and be part of the game this way.”

Agassi more than just a crowd favorite

In "Open: An Autobiography" Agassi wrote: “In tennis you’re on an island. It is the loneliest sport.”

On Tuesday night, it certainly didn't appear that way. The banter between Agassi and Courier carried from across the net into the arena's cheap seats. The two 45-year-old, former world No. 1's know each other well.

Agassi and Courier first met as teenagers at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, becoming roommates. For several decades, they battled it out for everything from junior national titles to Grand Slam titles. Together, the duo helped lead America to Davis Cup victories in 1992 and 1995.

"That's one of the great things about being out here tonight, being back out here with people you've been in the fire with," Agassi said.

During his career, Blake often turned to Agassi for advice.

“He’s a Hall of Famer, he’s a legend, but also a great guy,” Blake said. “If you had a question for him or wanted a scouting report or just a lesson on life, he was there. And he cared. He wasn’t someone who would just blow you off with a handshake and a pat on the back.

“For a legend to really take time out to do that is something that’s probably pretty rare. He instilled that in guys like Andy (Roddick) and myself. We’ve just continued to try and pay it forward. I always admired him for that.”

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