Winning is everything
Agassi warms up for Australian Open with victory over Korda
Posted: Wednesday January 13, 1999 03:19 PM
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Looking like his old self, Agassi dropped Korda in straight sets AP |
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Petr Korda discovered how difficult
it may be to defend his Australian Open title when he was thumped
6-2, 6-1 by Andre Agassi in the first round of the Colonial Classic
on Wednesday.
Playing in a blustery wind, Korda looked flat and showed only a
few flashes of the form that took him to his only Grand Slam title
and the verge of claiming the No. 1 ranking a year ago.
"My legs were stiff," Korda said. "I took a long journey
coming here and I've been working hard the last few days, and my
legs are not in the condition I want to have them. On each ball I
was a little bit late.
"Plus Andre was hitting very smooth today. He was very hungry
and very confident. Everything went in, very hard, and it's
difficult if your legs are not working the way they have to."
In other matches Wednesday, Thomas Enqvist beat Goran Ivanisevic
7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5), defending champion Mark Philippoussis rallied
to overcome Tim Henman 2-6, -4, 6-4, and Michael Chang outlasted
Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 7-5.
Each player is guaranteed three matches in the round-robin
exhibition before Saturday's final.
Korda refused to blame his poor performance on being distracted
by the storm that surrounds him since it was learned that he tested
positive for steroids at Wimbledon. His conscience is clear, he
says.
"I feel fine," he said. "I sleep well. The kids don't wake me
up, they sleep perfect as well for nine or 10 hours."
Agassi was delighted with his first match of the year, and
believes the number of matches he played last year will stand him
in good stead as the new season gets under way.
"First match out of the blocks, and it was a good work day,"
said Agassi. "I felt pretty good in every department, and that's
important. I feel more ready now than I've ever been (for the
Australian Open). I certainly like where I am.
"When you play 75 matches in one year and play well into
December you don't have to worry about being fit to be quite
honest. Quite the opposite. If you continue to work you're actually
taking steps backward. I didn't really have to start working hard
until I got down here and it's coming round as anticipated."
Agassi was shocked when Pete Sampras pulled out of his
Australian commitments, citing exhaustion after a long 1998.
"I was really surprised," said Agassi. "I guess the end of
the year really took its toll on him. I can only guess that he
can't be feeling too good, to give up an opportunity to win a Slam.
I didn't think I'd see the day he'd just take a rest over a Slam,
but that speaks volumes for how he feels.
"Maybe he's going to take a stronger run at the clay season
this year. Maybe his goal is to win the French," added Agassi,
referring to the only Grand Slam title that has eluded Sampras.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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