Agassi battles back to overcome Roddick
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Andre Agassi celebrated his first day as the oldest men's player to be ranked No 1 in the world with a dramatic comeback victory over Andy Roddick to win the US Men's Clay Court Championships yesterday.
Agassi supplanted Australian Lleyton Hewitt on Saturday night as No 1, but he had to work hard yesterday to beat Roddick 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. It was the 58th career title for Agassi.
Down one set and a break in the third game of the second set, Agassi rallied from triple break point to hold his serve. He broke Roddick, the defending champion, in the sixth and eighth games to force the third set. "I'm still numb, to be honest," Agassi said. "Andy kept me from getting comfortable for most of the match. Early in the second set, I made some big points and closed out the match."
Both players stayed on serve in the third set until the fifth game, when Agassi broke through with a backhand drop-shot winner that bounced just over the net. The break was all Agassi needed to boost his match record to 23-1 this season and capture his fourth title of the year, a record that includes the Australian Open.
"Today was one of those days you try to hold on and hang in there and give you the best chance and hope something goes right," Agassi said.
Agassi survived one break point in the first game of the second set before launching his big comeback in the second game. Roddick said: "It's tough to lose, knowing that you were one point from being up two breaks. It's the closest I've ever come against Andre."
Carlos Moya recovered from a set behind to force an exhausted Marat Safin to retire yesterday in the final of the Barcelona Open.
Safin, playing his first tournament after a month out with an ankle injury, edged the first set but fell behind early in the second and was eventually forced to concede the match with Spain's Moya on the brink of victory at 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 3-0.
Safin had endured a 2hr 44min quarter-final against Gaston Gaudio before playing a semi-final against Juan Carlos Ferrero and the final proved to be one match too many. "I just couldn't carry on," Safin said. "I came into this tournament after a month out with injury and it was impossible."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments