Notebook

Scared Andre relishes achievements

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- For Andre Agassi, thinking back on where he was 12 months ago and where he is today has him shaking his head.

After he missed out on defending his Australian Open last year with a wrist injury, Agassi went on to win five tournaments, make the final of the U.S. Open where he lost to Pete Sampras, and finish 2002 ranked No. 2.

On Sunday he won this year's Australian Open, beating German Rainer Schuettler in the final.

"To get through last year and actually have a chance at No. 1, actually win the tournaments that I won, and to have a chance at winning the (U.S.) Open, all those things meant so much to me based on the fact that in January I was very much scared for my career," Agassi said.

He said missing last year's Australian Open was a "very difficult but clear decision" and it was at such times that "I'm arguably at my best."

"It's when I put my head down, it's when I dig in, it's when I work, it's when I'm challenged by the very environment that I'm finding myself in," he added.

THAT AUSSIE FEELING: Andre Agassi now has four Australian Open trophies. But that's not the end to the eight-time Grand Slam champion's Down-Under connection.

Agassi said after beating Germany's Rainer Schuettler in the Australian Open final that "I feel like I'm half Australian."

Little wonder.

Agassi now has an Australian coach in Darren Cahill, a former tour player who guided world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt before linking up with Agassi last year.

And if that isn't enough, he and wife Steffi Graf's 15-month old son Jaden Gil has become a fan of children's entertainers, the Wiggles, and has tuned in to the Australian outfit's television show each morning.

NO SWIMMING: After he won the Australian Open in 2001, Andre Agassi took a dip in the Yarra River that runs near Melbourne Park, keeping a promise to his then coach Brad Gilbert.

Asked if he was going to take the plunge again after Sunday's win, Agassi was reluctant.

"I did that last time and got some sort of stomach virus," the American said. "I Think I swallowed a little water or something."

MARTINA'S SLAM: Martina Navratilova has won every Grand Slam title there is to win, but although she collected six consecutive majors -- spread over 1983 and 1984 -- she never notched a true Grand Slam (winning all four in one calendar year.)

Still, Navratilova doesn't look at her achievement "as any less."

"It's four in a row. Calendar again, that's just a number," Navratilova said after adding a 57th Grand Slam title to her list with victory Sunday in the mixed doubles here with Leander Paes of India.

She said she would have also notched a true Grand Slam had the Australian Open been held in January, as it is now, and not in its then November timeslot.

"But four in a row is bloody amazing, no matter what sequence it comes in," she added.

"I ended up winning six in a row, which is the only way I could win six in a row and not win a slam."

GO SERENA: Serena Williams can pass Martina Navratilova's run of six straight majors -- according to the former world No. 1.

Navratilova said of Williams: "If anybody can do it, she can."

"You need luck to stay healthy, you need luck to not run into somebody that's playing the match of their life, and you need those tennis gods to be on your side," Navratilova said.

"They were really with her this tournament because she could have lost three different matches, but she came though."

Navratilova added a player also needs "amazing mental toughness and strength, and she's got all of that. She's got the ability. Now it's the French (Open) and Wimbledon."

But for Navratilova, Serena's four consecutive wins against sister Venus are "almost the more amazing thing."

"That's mind-boggling right there," she said.

DOGS OF WAR: Martina Navratilova has a soft spot for Australia, but there are a couple of things she'd like to see changed.

Navratilova was unhappy when she found out that Frodo, a pug dog she has acquired here, was not allowed to travel with her in the aircraft cabin on her flight from Sydney to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

She said at the time that she would have to make the 11-hour drive between the two cities as a result.

Now she's preparing to fly the pooch back home to the United States.

Navratilova said on Sunday that "getting them out is difficult, because bringing them in the cabin is against the law."

"I need to talk to (Australian Prime Minister) John Howard about that," she added. "I also need to talk to him about the deployment of troops in Iraq, but that's another story."

PAT'S HONOR: Pat Cash will be remembered for his black and white checkered headband and win over Ivan Lendl in the 1987 Wimbledon final, but he gained another honor on Sunday.

Cash has been inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.

It came on the country's Australia Day national holiday. Others in the Hall of Fame include John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall and 'Rocket' Rod Laver.

A bronze bust of a smiling Cash, complete with trademark headband, ear-ring and shoulder length hair, will be placed alongside the other 24 inductees at Melbourne Park, site of the Australian Open.

"It was always my dream to play Davis Cup for my country and to win Wimbledon and the Australian Open," Cash said. "But it was more fun playing with my teammates and playing Davis Cup".

In addition to winning Wimbledon, Cash also steered Australia to Davis Cup finals wins over Sweden in 1983 and 1986, and lost in the 1987 and 1988 Australian Open finals to Swedes Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander.

He said those two Australian Open losses were his "biggest regrets."

FIT ANDRE: In the mid-1990's Andre Agassi was instilled with a life-long motto by track and field great Carl Lewis -- the fastest man in the world at the time.

While training in Houston, Agassi was taken aside by Lewis.

According to Agassi's long-time friend and personal trainer Gil Reyes -- Lewis revealed the secret to longevity in the sporting arena.

"We were training out there with him and at the end of the day Carl sat down with Andre and said let me explain something to you," Reyes said.

"It's a simple as this. As you get towards the end of the race don't do anything crazy just don't slow down. Run as fast as you can and don't slow down. Those words have stuck with him since then."

Reyes said he was confident the world No. 2 would be back to defend his Australian Open crown next year but that his future would be dependent on his fitness and love for the game.

Reyes added he would also relish the chance to help Steffi Graf take to the court on a more serious basis if she honored a deal with Agassi to play mixed doubles with her husband at the French Open.

 

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