 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
EVENTS
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|
 |
High-level support Clinton's presence doesn't help Agassi prevail
Updated: Wednesday June 06, 2001 12:40 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- The appearance of former U.S. President Bill Clinton signaled the end of third seed Andre Agassi's French Open dreams in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Clinton threw his support behind Agassi after arriving on Centre Court at the end of the opening set, with the American leading home favorite Sebastien Grosjean 6-1. But Agassi, a Democrat and Clinton supporter during his years in the White House, gave the former president few reasons to cheer, slumping out of Roland Garros 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. "I do know Andre Agassi, I've known him for years and I consider him a friend he's been a supporter," said Clinton, in an interview with French television. "He's a very good man. "But I must say his young opponent has very fast feet, his last two sets are about as good as I've seen anybody play in a long time." A relaxed Clinton, wearing a dark blazer and an orange polo shirt, received a rousing ovation from the crowd when he arrived, slightly delaying the start of the second set as he acknowledged the applause. Clinton, in Paris to give a speech on the escalating Middle East crisis and for a private meeting with French president Jacques Chirac, left briefly before the start of the fourth, just as Agassi suddenly began to turn his game around surging to a 2-0 lead. But as if on cue, when the former president returned to his seat, Agassi's game again collapsed. Clinton was seen grimacing and covering his face as the Australian Open champion repeatedly sent shots long or into the net. "I didn't even know he was there," offered a terse Agassi, who double-faulted just as Clinton settled in for the fourth set. "It sounds to me like you have it all figured out." If Agassi was unaware of Clinton's presence right behind him, he was the only one as security inside the sprawling Roland Garros grounds was heightened before the former President's arrival. "I saw something this morning already when some people were looking through the locker-room," said Spain's Alex Corretja, winner over Switzerland's Roger Federer in the earlier quarterfinal. "I was sort of thinking someone important must be coming...more important than a tennis player. "Usually when you get to the locker-room you don't see guys looking at the garbage."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
