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Agassi says Cahill rescued his career
|7sport.com.au ... 07 January 2003 07:01pm
Andre Agassi was going under for the second time in his tennis career when Australian coach Darren Cahill threw him a lifeline.
Discarded by world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, Cahill was contracted by Agassi last February and immediately resurrected the American's plummeting ranking.
Agassi was talking of his revival at Kooyong, where the Commonwealth Bank International leadup to next week's Australian Open begins on Wednesday.
In 1997 Agassi, who had reached No.2 in the world two years earlier, suffered a puzzling and sudden loss of form and confidence.
He fell as low as 141 but bravely fought his way back, shrugging off the ignominy of playing in challenger events to gain match practice.
The following year, Agassi made the biggest one-year jump into the top 10 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973) by rocketing from 122 to No.6.
Few realise it but the 32-year-old was almost on the ropes again 12 months ago when Cahill was hired and the rebuilding process began.
"What he's done has spoken for itself," Agassi said today.
"Last year when we started together I was coming off a serious wrist concern where I hadn't played and lost the chance to defend here.
"I had a win in Palm Springs coming off, I had a win in Key Biscayne coming off and I was probably a lot closer to being ranked 50th in the world."
When Hewitt and his entourage sacked Cahill and hired Jason Stoltenberg, Hewitt said the latter's recent playing experience had been a key factor.
But for a man who had won every one of the four grand slams, that was irrelevant.
The last time he began to sink, Agassi did the hard work himself.
This time he needed help.
"It was just a lot of groundwork that had to get laid," he said.
"I think he's got great discipline and a great work ethic, great knowledge to how I can realise my game at this stage of my career."
He clearly credits Cahill with his ability to still be at the top after such a long and stellar career.
"It's given me the platform to still be out there," he said.
"Every year it becomes more important for me to be strong and healthy.
"It gets harder and harder, guys get better and better so if I don't go out there even more prepared than I was the year before I feel like it can hurt my confidence and have an affect on all my matches.
"I need to keep pushing myself because it's the only thing I can count on."
Agassi set another ATP record last year when he became the oldest player to reach No.2 in ranking history and, under the tutelage of Cahill, won five tournaments and was a US Open finalist.
The former world No.1 won the Australian Open at his first attempt in 1995 and won again in 2000-2001.
He makes no predictions this year but says he is in a good frame of mind.
"I've always enjoyed playing in Australia, it has many great memories for me, so it's good to be back," Agassi said.
"The moment I landed I felt excited and comfortable and ready to go."
Agassi plays Swede Thomas Enqvist on the opening day of the Commonwealth Bank International at Kooyong.
The other matches tomorrow are Alex Corretja versus Mark Philippoussis, gun French junior Richard Gasquet against Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui and Andrei Pavel versus Sebastien Grosjean.
in my honest opinion, i think that Andre is being a shit. and i say this as someone who adores him.
first, i wasn't aware that he was "on the ropes" 12 months ago. as far as i was aware, he had only suffered a wrist injury. that's all. his career wasn't slumping. he was just injured!
second, the last time he started to sink, he did NOT do the work to come back by himself. he had the help of Gil Reyes primarily and Brad Gilbert secondarily. but most of the credit should be given to Gil for helping Andre whip himself back into physical shape once he realised that screwing Brooke Shields just wasn't worth it.
finally, i DO think that he had an excellent 2002. but i honestly believe he would have had the same kind of year if he had stuck with Brad. i'm really not sure what Darren has helped him achieve.
no offence to Darren -- he is a fine coach!
|7sport.com.au ... 07 January 2003 07:01pm
Andre Agassi was going under for the second time in his tennis career when Australian coach Darren Cahill threw him a lifeline.
Discarded by world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, Cahill was contracted by Agassi last February and immediately resurrected the American's plummeting ranking.
Agassi was talking of his revival at Kooyong, where the Commonwealth Bank International leadup to next week's Australian Open begins on Wednesday.
In 1997 Agassi, who had reached No.2 in the world two years earlier, suffered a puzzling and sudden loss of form and confidence.
He fell as low as 141 but bravely fought his way back, shrugging off the ignominy of playing in challenger events to gain match practice.
The following year, Agassi made the biggest one-year jump into the top 10 in the history of the ATP Rankings (since 1973) by rocketing from 122 to No.6.
Few realise it but the 32-year-old was almost on the ropes again 12 months ago when Cahill was hired and the rebuilding process began.
"What he's done has spoken for itself," Agassi said today.
"Last year when we started together I was coming off a serious wrist concern where I hadn't played and lost the chance to defend here.
"I had a win in Palm Springs coming off, I had a win in Key Biscayne coming off and I was probably a lot closer to being ranked 50th in the world."
When Hewitt and his entourage sacked Cahill and hired Jason Stoltenberg, Hewitt said the latter's recent playing experience had been a key factor.
But for a man who had won every one of the four grand slams, that was irrelevant.
The last time he began to sink, Agassi did the hard work himself.
This time he needed help.
"It was just a lot of groundwork that had to get laid," he said.
"I think he's got great discipline and a great work ethic, great knowledge to how I can realise my game at this stage of my career."
He clearly credits Cahill with his ability to still be at the top after such a long and stellar career.
"It's given me the platform to still be out there," he said.
"Every year it becomes more important for me to be strong and healthy.
"It gets harder and harder, guys get better and better so if I don't go out there even more prepared than I was the year before I feel like it can hurt my confidence and have an affect on all my matches.
"I need to keep pushing myself because it's the only thing I can count on."
Agassi set another ATP record last year when he became the oldest player to reach No.2 in ranking history and, under the tutelage of Cahill, won five tournaments and was a US Open finalist.
The former world No.1 won the Australian Open at his first attempt in 1995 and won again in 2000-2001.
He makes no predictions this year but says he is in a good frame of mind.
"I've always enjoyed playing in Australia, it has many great memories for me, so it's good to be back," Agassi said.
"The moment I landed I felt excited and comfortable and ready to go."
Agassi plays Swede Thomas Enqvist on the opening day of the Commonwealth Bank International at Kooyong.
The other matches tomorrow are Alex Corretja versus Mark Philippoussis, gun French junior Richard Gasquet against Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui and Andrei Pavel versus Sebastien Grosjean.
in my honest opinion, i think that Andre is being a shit. and i say this as someone who adores him.
first, i wasn't aware that he was "on the ropes" 12 months ago. as far as i was aware, he had only suffered a wrist injury. that's all. his career wasn't slumping. he was just injured!
second, the last time he started to sink, he did NOT do the work to come back by himself. he had the help of Gil Reyes primarily and Brad Gilbert secondarily. but most of the credit should be given to Gil for helping Andre whip himself back into physical shape once he realised that screwing Brooke Shields just wasn't worth it.
finally, i DO think that he had an excellent 2002. but i honestly believe he would have had the same kind of year if he had stuck with Brad. i'm really not sure what Darren has helped him achieve.
no offence to Darren -- he is a fine coach!
