A player of irresistible flair, appeal and shot-making ability since appearing on the professional landscape as a 16-year-old in 1986, Andre Kirk Agassi, was the first Nevadan to make an impact on the game. And what a tremendous impact, although it took longer than expected for him to make the predicted leap to his first major championship, Wimbledon in 1992—and even longer to re-dedicate himself to his profession so that he was solidly established at the heights. At age 33, he was playing better than ever, winning his fourth Australian championship, his eighth major.
Despite a seemingly disastrous slump during which he plummeted to No. 141 in 1997, and finished the year at No. 122, Andre rebounded sensationally to rise to No. 6 in 1998—a record turnaround. He nailed down five of his majors between 1999-2003. The piece de resistance was his French triumph in 1999, evicting the defender Carlos Moya in the fourth round, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1, and finishing in a dazzling recovery over Andrei Medvedev, 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 The win catapulted Agassi into the select company of Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver and Roy Emerson as only the fifth man to own all four majors.
Andre’s first major title, Wimbledon, came after he’d failed as the favourite to beat Pete Sampras for the U.S. Open title in 1990, and Andres Gomez and Jim Courier for the French in 1990 and 1991. After a quick, unhappy thrashing by Henri Leconte, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, at Wimbledon in 1987, Agassi assiduously avoided the grass until 1991, a successful reappearance ending in a quarter-final loss to David Wheaton, 6-2, 0-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. Realizing the greensward wasn’t that forbidding, he returned a year later to take it all, his No. 12 seeding making him among Wimbledon’s lowest regarded champions at the starting gate. “This was not the one people looked for me to win,” he said correctly, after his buzzing groundies outdid the missile attack of 36-ace-serving Goran Ivanisevic in the final, 6-7 (8-10), 6-4,6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
Ranked low again in 1994, No. 20, he became only the third non-seed to win the U.S. Championships, taking it on his ninth shot, over German Michael Stich, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 joining Aussies Mal Anderson (1957) and Fred Stolle (1966) in the exclusive unseeded club. He had also made excuses for skipping the long trip to Australia, yet won it on his first try in 1995, spectacularly over Sampras, the defender, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), 6-4.
Following his French title in 1999, Andre won his second U.S.—fifth major—in a five-set battle with Todd Martin, 6-4 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (2-7), 6-3. 6-2. He then won the 2000 Aussie over Yevgeny Kafelnikov, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, after being two points from defeat in a fourth-set, semi-final tie-breaker against Sampras, 6-4, 3-6, 6-7 (0-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1. His third and fourth Aussie titles were both in straight-set finals, over Frenchman Arnaud Clement, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2, in 2001 and German Rainer Schuettler, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1, in 2003. (He missed 2002 with a wrist injury.)
A brilliant shot-maker and thoughtful attacker from the baseline who took the ball so early that he seemed to be playing ping-pong, Agassi needed time to sort out whether being a commercial success was enough. As the most widely marketed player of all-time — “Image is Everything” was one of his sales pitches — he has made more millions off the court than on it. Fortunately, he decided to utilize his gifts to attract as much attention by winning. Never has there been such a controversial figure so broadly associated with the game, thanks to TV commercials, his ever-changing hairstyle, brightly hued attire. Such items as black shoes and denim shorts, considered garish by traditionalists, lured countless buyers as hip or avant-garde. His engagement to actress Brooke Shields (granddaughter of Hall of Famer Frank Shields), whom he married in 1997, didn’t hurt. Andre’s visibility transcended the sports page. That marriage was short-lived, but he made another high-profile pairing when he wed champion Steffi Graf in 2001 (they have two children, Jaden Gil and Jaz).
But beneath the peacock and the pop idol was a tennis player whose timing, anticipation, coordination and determination enabled him to deliver withering, top-spinning barrages with flicks of the wrist. “When Andre’s on, forget it,” said Sampras. “He does practically everything better than anybody else.”
Agassi, born April 29, 1970 in Las Vegas and grew up there, although he was farmed out to Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Academy at Brandenton, Fla., at age 13. His father, Mike Agassi, an Iranian immigrant and naturalized U.S. citizen, was a strict taskmaster determined that Andre would be a top tennis player. Papa pushed the kid from cradle onward, then gave the prodigy over to surrogate father Bollettieri. An Olympic boxer for Iran in 1952, Mike fell for tennis and taught Andre the new game, “based on the way a fighter throws punches, plus a two-handed backhand for added power.” A right-hander, 5-11, Andre played at, 170 pounds.
Andre had his own Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta, where he made off with the gold medal by thumping Spaniard Sergi Bruguera, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. He and wife Steffi Graf are the only players in tennis history to have all four major championship titles—and a gold medal—in their trophy cases. By lifting the Australian crown from Sampras in 1995, Agassi also took Pete’s No. 1 jersey, and they duelled throughout the year for the top. But Pete ended Andre’s excellent summer streak of four tournaments and 26 matches with a 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, title round defeat to regain his U.S. Open title and the top ranking.
That loss seemed to deflate Agassi, and 1996—other than the Olympics—was a downer: Ghastly first and second-round losses respectively at Wimbledon (No. 186 Doug Flach) and the French (No. 73 Chris Woodruff), and desultory semifinal losses to Michael Chang at the Australian and the U.S. Opens. His was an uneven course through the first 11 years, up one year, down another (four first-round losses at the U.S. Open for instance), but the sheer firepower within made him a threat to blast anybody off any court at any time.
A world Top 10 inhabitant 16 times between 1988 and 2005, Agassi finished 1999 as No. 1, and was No. 2 in 1994-95, 2002. Bollettieri, feeling Andre didn’t work hard enough, severed their decade-long relationship in 1993, but he won six majors with Brad Gilbert as coach. Plunging to No. 24, his lowest adult ranking at the time, after losing the first round of the 1993 U.S. Open to No. 61 Thomas Enqvist, he required surgery to repair a damaged wrist—“I thought my career was over.” But he came back strong. Aussie Darren Cahill became his coach in 2002, and fitness guru, fellow Las Vegan Gil Reyes, directed Andre’s superb physical conditioning.
In 1988, as one of the youngest U.S. Davis Cup rookies at 18, he won all his singles on Latin clay (historic trouble ground for gringos) at Peru and Argentina to spearhead his fallen nation’s recovery from the perdition of relegation. He became a valuable hand in the Cup triumphs of 1990, 1992 and 1995, but played sporadically thereafter, a total of 22 ties. Registering four singles wins in 3-2 decisions over Zimbabwe and the Czech Republic in 2000, he sat out Davis Cup play until making a cameo in 2005 against Croatia, losing what became his Cup swan-song to Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 7-6 (0), 6-3 in the surprising 3-2 U.S. loss. He finished with a 30-6 singles record, representing the U.S. in 1988-1993, 1995, 1997-1998, 2000, 2005.
Andre made his first splash at Stratton Mountain, Vt. in 1986 as a 16-year-old, beating Tim Mayotte en route to the quarter-finals. He won his first title at the end of 1987 in Itaparica (Brazil), over Brazil’s Luiz Mattar 7-6, 6-2. The last title (the 60th) was Los Angeles in 2005, 6-4, 7-5, over Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.
His most productive season was 1995: seven titles on a 73-9 match record, but two of his five titles in 1999 were the French and U.S. His feat of playing U.S. Open finals 15 years apart (1990 and 2005) is unequalled.
Andre’s last genuine hurrah was fending off close defeats. In 2005, he was two sets down and two points from defeat in defeating James Blake in an epic Open quarter-final 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(8-6), en route to climbing to the ultimate of his 15th major final, a very combative four-set loss to Roger Federer, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7-1), 6-1. Establishing the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, he has shown responsibility and concern, donating millions to such worthy projects as building the Agassi College Preparatory Academy, and the Agassi Boys and Girls Club in the troubled sector of West Las Vegas. Call him a humanitarian champion.
During a 21-year pro career, ending emotionally at the U.S. Open of 2006, he won 60 singles titles (of 90 finals), one doubles title and $31,152,975 prize money. His career singles won-loss record was 870-274.
MAJOR TITLES (8) — Australian singles, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003; French singles, 1999; Wimbledon singles, 1992; US singles, 1994, 1999.
DAVIS CUP — 1988,1989,1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005 30-6 in singles.
SINGLES RECORD IN THE MAJORS — Australian (48-5), French (51-16), Wimbledon (46-13), U.S. (79-19).
- Bio Courtesy Bud Collins
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Full name is Andre Kirk Agassi... In 1986, emerged as a 16-year-old prodigy of Nick Bollettieri, with whom he worked until July 1993... One of four children (brother Phillip, and sisters Rita and Tami) to parents, Mike, a former boxer who participated in the 1952 Olympics and introduced tennis to his son; and Elizabeth... Childhood best friend Perry Rogers is President of Agassi Enterprises, Inc. and the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation, which was founded in 1994 to assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas... Since the first "Grand Slam for Children" benefit concert was held in 1995, more than $52.3 million has been raised through 10 fundraisers with more than 85,000 fans and VIP guests in attendance... The 2005 event raised $10.1 million and over the years, such entertainers have included Elton John, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Dennis Miller, Jay Leno and Robin Williams...
On Aug. 30, 2001, The Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a charter school for at-risk youth, opened in West Las Vegas for grades 3-5... On Aug. 25, 2003, Phase II (grade 7) opened, with grades 8-12 opening through 2008... The charter school is jointly funded by Agassi Foundation, Nevada State Department of Education along with other grant sources... In April 1997, the Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas opened after a $1.25 million contribution was made... One year later, the club was officially chartered the 2,000th Boys & Girls Club established in the U.S...
Named winner of the ATP's Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for 1995 and 2001 for helping disadvantaged youth in Las Vegas... Was honored along with NBA player Alonzo Mourning as USA Today WEEKEND "Most Caring Athletes" in 2001... Voted as "Champion of the Champions" in 1999 by French sports paper L'Equipe... Named ATP Most Improved Player of Year in 1998 and ATP Player of Year in 1999... Voted ITWA Most Quotable Player of Year for 2002...
Wife, Stefanie Graf (married Oct. 22, 2001 in Las Vegas) is a winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles; son, Jaden Gil (born Oct. 26, 2001); daughter, Jaz Elle (born Oct. 3, 2003)... A member of three winning Davis Cup teams (1990, '92 and '95) and has a 30-6 career record in 22 ties since 1988... Fitness trainer and one of his closest friends is former Univ. of Nevada-Las Vegas strength coach Gil Reyes (since 1990)... Coached by former ATP pro Darren Cahill (since February 2002), who reached a career-high No. 22 in 1989 and was a SF at US Open in 1988.
Agassi DEUCE Feature (June 2012)
1987 -- Made presence known with SF appearances in Stratton Mountain and Basel...Won first ATP title as a wild card in Itaparica (d. Mattar)...
1988 -- Won six titles in seven finals...At age 18, posted SF showings at Roland Garros and US Open...
1989 -- Won his only title of year in Orlando and reached Rome final...
1990 -- Reached first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros (l. to Gomez) and followed later in year with final at US Open (l. to Sampras)...Captured inaugural ATP World Championship in Frankfurt, defeating Becker in SF and Edberg in final...Won three other titles...Helped U.S. to Davis Cup title over Australia...
1991 -- Won titles in Orlando and Washington...Finalist for second year at Roland Garros (l. to Courier)...
1992 -- Defeated three-time champs Becker and J. McEnroe to reach Wimbledon final, where he defeated Ivanisevic in five sets for first Grand Slam title...Also won Toronto and Atlanta...Led U.S. over Sweden (SF) and Switzerland (F) to win Davis Cup...
1993 -- Underwent right wrist surgery on Dec. 20, 1993...Won titles in San Francisco and Scottsdale and first career doubles title in Cincinnati (w/Korda)...
1994 -- Returned from wrist surgery to capture five titles, including US Open (d. Stich) and AMS Toronto and Paris...Defeated five seeded players en route to US Open title, becoming first unseeded champion since Fred Stolle in 1966...
1995 -- Won career-high seven titles in a personal-best 11 finals, compiled a personal-best 73-9 match record and became 12th player in history of ATP Rankings to rank No. 1 on April 10... Ranked No. 1 until Nov. 5 (total of 30 weeks...Compiled a career-best 26-match winning streak during summer hard court circuit, winning titles in Washington, Montreal, Cincinnati and New Haven...The streak ended when he lost to Sampras in US Open final...The rivals met in three AMS finals during the year-Indian Wells (lost), Miami (won) and Montreal (won)...
1996 -- Won AMS titles in Miami (d. Ivanisevic) and Cincinnati (d. Chang)...Became first player to win Miami title three times...First American man to win Olympic Gold medal in singles (d. Bruguera) since Vincent Richards in 1924...Following week in Cincinnati posted consecutive Top 5 wins over Kafelnikov (QF), Muster (SF) and Chang (F)...Held No. 1 ranking for two weeks (Jan. 29-Feb. 5)...Qualified for ATP World Championship and went 0-1 in round robin play before withdrawing because of illness...
1997 -- Advanced to SF in San Jose and QF in Indianapolis, his best ATP results...Played in Davis Cup QF tie and defeated Siemerink and Schalken...Played in his only Grand Slam event of season at US Open and lost in 4th RD to eventual champion Rafter...After reaching as low as No. 141 on Nov. 10, took a wild card into his hometown Las Vegas Challenger and reached final (l. to Vinck)...One week later, took another wild card into Burbank Challenger and won title (d. Sargsian)...
1998 -- Made biggest one-year jump into Top 10 in history of ATP Rankings (since 1973) by climbing from 122 previous year to No. 6...Compiled a 68-16 record and won five titles while reaching five other finals...His 10 finals was second-most in his career..His 68 match wins was co-leader on Tour with Rios...Compiled an ATP-high 51 hard court victories...Won his 500th career match victory in 1st RD (d. Calatrava) at Wimbledon...Played in 1st RD Davis Cup tie vs. Russia and beat Safin in second rubber to tie Bill Tilden's 72-year-old U.S. record of 16 straight Cup victories...
1999 -- Finished No. 1 for first time in his career by compiling a 23-2 record in Grand Slams, winning his first Roland Garros title (d. Medvedev), reaching Wimbledon final (l. to Sampras) and capturing a second US Open crown (d. T. Martin)...He became fifth man, second American, to win all four Grand Slam titles in his career, joining Hall of Fame greats Don Budge, Rod Laver, Fred Perry and Roy Emerson...Also first player since Courier in 1993 to reach three consecutive Grand Slam finals in a season and oldest (29 years, 8 months) year-end No.1 since Ivan Lendl in '89...Won five titles for second straight year (in eight finals) and led ATP with 63 match victories...In Roland Garros vs. Medvedev, lost first two sets (1-6, 2-6) before becoming only third player in Open Era to overcome a two-set deficit in a Grand Slam final, first since Lendl won Roland Garros in 1984...Continued success on grass at Wimbledon where he reached final (l. to Sampras)...In summer, won titles in Washington (d. Kafelnikov) and at US Open (d. Martin)... Fought off all eight break points in Open final and came back from 1-2 sets deficit to beat Martin in five sets...It was first time a player came back from such a deficit in US Open final since John Newcombe in 1973...Returned to No. 1 on Sept. 13 and held top spot rest of year...Also reached final in Los Angeles (l. to Sampras)...Closed indoor season with 14-4 record, winning 10th career AMS title in Paris (d. Safin) and reached final at ATP World Championship in Hannover (l. to Sampras)...Second player after Wilander to win Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces...Reached finals on four different surfaces for first time...Earned a career and ATP-best $4,269,265...
2000 -- Began season by capturing his sixth career Grand Slam title, his third in four Slam appearances going back to Roland Garros in '99...Defeated Philippousis in 4th RD, Arazi in QF, Sampras in an epic five-set SF battle and Kafelnikov in a four-set final...Became first player to reach four straight Grand Slam finals since Rod Laver won Grand Slam in 1969...Lifted U.S. to a 3-2 Davis Cup 1st RD victory in Zimbabwe with wins over Wayne and Byron Black...The two victories moved him past Arthur Ashe and into second place on all-time U.S. Davis Cup singles wins list (28), trailing only John McEnroe (41)...In Davis Cup QF vs. Czech Republic, helped U.S. to another 3-2 victory by winning both of his matches...Improved Cup record to 30-5 (all singles) in 21 career ties and has won 21 of his last 22 Cup singles matches...Reached SF at Wimbledon with a 10-8 in fifth set win over T. Martin in 2nd RD (saved two match points and rallied from 2-5 deficit) before losing to Rafter in five-set thriller...In Washington lost in final to Corretja...Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon and reached final (d. Kuerten, Kafelnikov, Norman in round robin and Safin in SF before losing to eventual No. 1 Kuerten...
2001 -- The oldest player (31) to finish in Top 3 since 32-year-old Jimmy Connors was No. 2 in 1984..Opened season by winning his seventh career Grand Slam crown at Australian Open (d. Clement in F) and only player on ATP circuit during year to reach QF or better in all four Grand Slam tournaments (also accomplished feat in 1995)...It was first time in his career he defended a Grand Slam title...In March, won first title in Indian Wells in his 15th attempt, defeating Hewitt in SF and rival Sampras in final...Continued his success in Miami where he dropped only one set, beating Rafter in SF and Gambill in final to become first man to win four singles titles in tournament history...Began first three months with a 22-2 match record...Reached SF at Wimbledon, only to lose to Rafter 8-6 in fifth set (after serving for match at 5-4 in fifth)...Opened North American summer hard court circuit with a title in Los Angeles (d. Sampras in F)...At US Open lost to rival Sampras in four tie-breaks (without a service break) in one of tournament's greatest matches of all-time...
2002 -- Became oldest player (32 years, 8 months) to finish No. 2 in history of ATP Rankings (since 1973)...Co-leader (w/Hewitt) on ATP circuit with five titles, including three ATP Masters Series crowns (Miami, Rome, Madrid) to bring his career total to 15...Also appeared in two other finals, including US Open where he fell to long-time rival Sampras in four sets...He had won at least one Grand Slam title each of past three years and picked up 53 match wins...Missed Australian Open with a right wrist injury and ended his career-best streak of 17 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments played...Opened season in late February and reached final in San Jose, losing to Hewitt 7-6 in third set (held two match points)...Followed with his fourth career title in Scottsdale (d. Balcells)...Captured his fifth career crown in Miami, defeating Federer in four sets (also recorded his 700th career match win)...During clay court circuit, compiled a 13-2 mark highlighted by his first ATP Masters Series Roma crown without dropping a set (d. Haas)...It was his first clay title since Roland Garros in 1999...He also advanced to SF in Houston and QF at Roland Garros...During U.S. summer circuit, compiled an outstanding 17-3 mark with repeat title in Los Angeles (d. Gambill), runner-up for third time at US Open (l. to Sampras), SF in Washington (l. to Blake) and QF at AMS Cincinnati (l. to Hewitt)...After a six-week break, returned to action in Madrid and won first-year tournament, defeating Ferrero (QF), Grosjean (SF) and Novak (F), who withdrew due to a hamstring injury...Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai and went 0-2 in round robin play before pulling out of last match due to a hip injury...Had a 46-1 match record when winning first set in a match...Compiled records of 37-8 on hard, 13-2 on clay, 2-1 on carpet and 1-1 on grass...
2003 -- Oldest player to finish in Top 5 since Jimmy Connors (35) was No. 4 in 1987...Captured four titles in first four months of season, including eighth career Grand Slam title and 16th career AMS crown...Compiled a 19-3 record in Grand Slam play, reaching 4th RD or better in all four Slams...Became oldest player to hold No. 1 ATP Entry Ranking at 33 years, 13 days on May 11 and held top position for 14 weeks...Took over as ATP Champions Race leader following his fourth career Australian Open title (d. Schuettler) and held top spot until June 8&...He dropped only one set in two weeks and that came to Escude in 3rd RD...The last time he won a Grand Slam title losing one set came at 1995 Australian Open...Followed by winning his fifth career Bay Area title in San Jose (d. Sanguinetti), again only losing one set during tournament...Saved one match point in his three-set victory over Voltchkov...His season-high 12-match winning streak came to an end with a 1st RD exit to Enqvist in Scottsdale...Following week in Indian Wells withdrew due to a right shoulder injury...Won AMS Miami for a tournament record sixth time (d. Moya), surpassing wife Stefanie Graf's mark of five titles...In April, opened clay court season by winning title in Houston (d. Roddick)...Followed with QF effort at Roland Garros for third consecutive year (l. to Coria) and played well on grass, reaching SF at Queen's and 4th RD at Wimbledon (l. to Philippoussis in five sets)...During summer hard court circuit, reached SF in Washington, QF at AMS Montreal and SF at US Open (l. to Ferrero)...Did not play for two months after US Open until Tennis Masters Cup Houston where he reached final, defeating Ferrero and Nalbandian in round robin and Schuettler (SF) before losing to Federer for second time...Oldest player to reach final of year-end championship since 35-year-old Arthur Ashe in 1978...No. 2 in return games won (34 percent), No. 4 in break points converted (47 percent) and No. 5 in service games won (86 percent)...32-6 on hard, 9-2 on clay and 6-2 on grass...
2004 -- The Las Vegas resident finished in Top 10 for 15th time in his 19-year career and at 34 became oldest player to finish in Top 10 since Jimmy Connors (36) was No. 7 in 1988...Became sixth player in Open Era to reach 800 career wins with 1st RD victory over Bogomolov in Los Angeles in July...After compiling a 17-9 match record through July, went 20-4 in his last five tournaments, reaching QF or better each time...Captured his lone ATP title of year in August at Masters Series Cincinnati where he defeated three former No. 1s and current Top 10s in succession - Moya (QF), Roddick (SF) and Hewitt (F)...In earlier rounds, posted wins over No. 19 Fish (1st), T. Johansson (2nd) and No. 16 Chela (3rd)...He broke a 17-tournament title drought with his ATP-best 17th career ATP Masters Series title and he has won at least one title in 17 of last 18 years (except 1997)...Opened season by reaching SF at Australian Open, falling in five sets to Safin and ending his 26-match winning streak Down Under (last loss came in '99 4th RD)...Then advanced to SF in San Jose (l. to Fish) and AMS Indian Wells (l. to Federer)...After a 4th RD exit in Miami (l. to Calleri), was bothered by a hip injury and lost three consecutive matches in St. Poelten, Roland Garros and Queen's...Also withdrew from Wimbledon...Began North American summer circuit with QF in Los Angeles (l. to Haas) and after a 2nd RD exit in Toronto (l. to Melzer), played best tennis from Cincinnati-on...After winning his 59th career title (most among active players), advanced to SF in Washington (l. to Muller) and QF at US Open (l. to Federer in five)...Returned in October and reached SF in AMS Madrid (l. to Safin) and final in Stockholm, losing to T. Johansson in a third set tie-break...Compiled records of 37-10 on hard, 0-2 on clay and 0-1 on grass...Ranked in Top 10 in four serving categories - No. 3 in second serve points won (56 percent) and points won returning second serve (55 percent), No. 4 in break points saved (69 percent) and No. 5 in service games won (88 percent)...
2005 -- The Las Vegas native finished in Top 10 for 16th time in his 20-year career and became oldest player in year-end Top 10 since Jimmy Connors (36) was No. 7 in 1988... Tied with Connors for most career Top 10 finishes... Qualified for his fifth Tennis Masters Cup in six years and his consistent play included QF or better in 10 of 12 tournaments... Ranked in Top 10 every week except one (Feb. 14) when he slipped to No. 11... Captured his 60th career title and has won at least one ATP title in 18 of last 19 years (except 1997)... At 35 years, 4 months, advanced to US Open final to become oldest Grand Slam finalist since Ken Rosewall (39) at 1974 US Open... Played well on hard courts throughout year, compiling a 32-7 record and advancing to QF (or better) in all eight tournaments he played... Began season with a QF at Australian Open with wins over Dent (3rd RD) and J. Johansson (4th RD) despite 51 aces before losing to No. 1 Federer... Followed with QF in San Jose (l. to Melzer) and Dubai (l. to Federer)... In March, made his first Davis Cup appearance since 2000 and lost to Ljubicic in opening rubber... Then reached QF at AMS Indian Wells and withdrew (vs. Hewitt) due to a toe injury... Followed with a SF showing in Miami (l. to Federer)... During clay court circuit, was 6-4 and reached QF in Houston (l. to Grosjean) and SF at AMS Roma with wins over Gasquet, Ljubicic, Hrbaty (l. to Coria)... Then lost in 1st RD in AMS Hamburg (l. to Lopez) and Roland Garros (l. to Nieminen in five sets)... After losing in Paris, missed two months of action due to a chronic back problem, a sciatic nerve injury, which also kept him out of Wimbledon... Returned July 26 in Los Angeles and lost only one set during week en route to his 60th career title (d. Muller)... Two weeks later in Montreal, advanced to his first Canadian final in 10 years as he dropped only one set in five matches before falling to No. 2 Nadal in three sets... In his 20th US Open appearance, made a memorable run to final with three consecutive five-set wins over Malisse (4th RD), Blake (QF) and Ginepri (SF) before falling in four sets to Federer... His 77 US Open match wins are second-most in tournament history behind Connors (98)... Did not play a match until November in Shanghai where he lost in his opening round robin match to Davydenko before withdrawing from tournament due to a left ankle injury...
2006 -- The 36-year-old Las Vegas native comes into his 21st consecutive US Open with an 8-7 match record on the season and unseeded for first time since 1997 when he entered No. 63...His last tournament came in Washington where he lost to Italian qualifier Andrea Stoppini 6-4, 6-3 in his opening round match on Aug. 1...He then withdrew from ATP tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati due to reoccurring back problems...Began summer by reaching QF in Los Angeles (l. to Gonzalez)...Skipped clay court season and planned to return to action in June for grass court circuit...Lost to Henman in first round at Queen's and 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Nadal)...After withdrawing from Australian Open due to a left ankle injury sustained while playing racket ball in October 2005, took a wild card into Delray Beach and reached QF (l. to Garcia-Lopez)...Then lost in 2nd RD in Dubai (d. Rusedski, l. to Phau) and 3rd RD in Indian Wells (d. Goldstein, l. to Haas)...Withdrew from Miami due to back injury, ending a 19-year tournament appearance run.
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