Henman beats Agassi, wins Swiss Indoors
Posted: Sunday October 11, 1998 03:07 PM
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Tim Henman dispatched Agassi 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 AP |
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) -- Britain's Tim Henman produced some of
the best tennis of his career Sunday to defeat fourth-seeded Andre
Agassi in the final of the Swiss Indoors and win his second title
in two months.
Henman, who successfully defended his Tashkent, Uzbekistan,
title last month, handed the American veteran a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
thrashing in 2 hours, 16 minutes to extend his winning streak to 12
victories.
"I played some of the best tennis of my career, the kind I only
dreamed about," said Henman, who was seeded sixth. "The level was
just so high and I was very consistent.
"And to win in a final with a player of the highest pedigree
like Agassi, you have to put out some great tennis to win."
The victory avenged his loss to Agassi 10 weeks ago, when the
American beat out Henman for the title in Los Angeles in the pair's
only other head-to-head meeting.
"He just rose above today and played deserving of the victory,
and I didn't," said Agassi, who reached the final without dropping
a set. "He made it happen. I was really impressed.
"Initially, I wouldn't have categorized him with the best
players in the world, but today he showed he's perhaps one of the
strongest players on this surface. He kicked my butt."
Currently eighth in the Road to Hanover standings, the victory
solidifies Henman's chances of a berth at the ATP Tour World
Championship next month.
"I hope this was an indication of things to come," said
Henman, who has four career titles. "I know I can still improve
and I believe I can go on to win more and bigger tournaments."
With both players attacking the net and looking solid, it was
Agassi who created the first break opportunity.
But leading 0-30 at 3-3 on Henman's serve, Agassi blew his
chance to jump ahead, squandering three break points as a steely
Henman won five consecutive points.
Henman then broke Agassi in the 10th game, the American unable
to save a second set point when he said a shot wide.
Another wide unforced error cost Agassi his opening serve in the
second set, giving Henman a 2-0 lead. But the Briton squandered his
advantage on his next service game, double-faulting twice to put
the set back on serve.
But a determined Henman, refusing to let the tables turn,
immediately broke Agassi back, then held to take the set.
As Henman began to struggle with his serve in the third set,
Agassi began to get back into the match, breaking to go 4-2, then
holding to take the set and keep his hopes alive.
The pair traded breaks twice in the fourth set before the top
British player broke Agassi's serve at 5-4 to close out the
victory.
"I was up a break in the fourth and should have been able to
hang on and turn the match around," said Agassi, who has a 57-13
win-loss record this season. "In hindsight, I should have been
pleased that I got back into the match. But I could have shot
myself if I'd had a gun, I was so angry with myself."
Agassi, who won four titles this season, is currently fifth in
the Road to Hanover standings. While a victory in the final would
have virtually guaranteed him a berth at the World Championships,
reaching the final has further cemented his foothold in the
top-eight standings.
Reaching the final will also aid his climb back up the ATP Tour
rankings.
Going from No. 141 in November 1997 to his current ranking of
No. 8, the 28-year-old American still has a chance to leapfrog
compatriot Pete Sampras to finish the year as No. 1.
"It's possible," admitted Agassi. "But first I need to be
able to win."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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