European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 02, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse It Andre Agassi opens defense of his . Open title tuesday with a sweep which is How Pete Sampras also wins As he Aims for the trophy he won in 1990 and 93, Riva i t looks As if they come to this Point from opposite ends of the worlds Well As opposite ends of the draw. And maybe they do. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras Are scheduled to meet for the championship a week from sunday and looking Forward to it is the Best thing Tennis has going right now. The rivalry is a Joy. They can meet Only once on the last Day but we _ can think about it now. That s something Tennis has t had since Bjorn Borg decided it was t Worth the Effort to keep his nose to the Grindstone Jimmy Connors got Middle aged and John Mcenroe lost interest. Champions need challengers or the world says who d he beat this is a rivairym3etween Agassi and Sampras,.they have won the last four. Win Blevons and three of the Hist five . Opens. What one does t win the other one does or so it seems. _. Good athletic discipline says they Ain t permit themselves to think that Way. But it s inescapable. Agassi made Light work of Bryan ,.andsampras blew out Fernando Meligeni tuesday which was just what the storyline dictates. It s preamble. Well Agassi who considers his year began when unseeded he won this tournament last year said one year later and i feel i can win any match i and in the next moment he added Well you know it s like i look at Pete like if he is playing his Best Tennis he s the Guy that i worry about most.". Still lie had plenty to worry about in thursday night s second round where Alex Corretta was waiting not Sampras. The spaniard pushed Agassi to five sets before the top dog coming Back with the Aid of an Over the shoulder forehand Winner prevailed 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 Agassi s next opponent is Stefan Edberg who like Sampras is a two time Steve Jacobson new Day . Open Champion. The Agassi Sampras rivalry is significant Here and now because this is the american championship and they re both american. There have been Only two All american men s . Open finals in the open Era the last when Sampras beat Agassi in 1990. If everybody at Flushing Meadow in new York is playing his Best it comes Clown to that. That s Why theat ranks Agassi no. 1 and Sampras no. 2 in the world they play with. Mutual respect. Their extreme contrast makes the rivalry compelling and somewhat deceptive. Borg Connors and Mcenroe they made for a hot rival. Each had an Edge on a different playing surface. In personality they made Sparks. They did t like each other. That was one kind of theater. These Guys like each other. Or at least they get along in a kind of Mutual admiration society. There is not much not to like about Pete Agassi said. Each has grown to his position As he has grown into his Talent. Sampra came on like a skyrocket with classic Talent and a shyness that made him hide behind silence. Agassi came on with classic chutzpah and a status that was made with mirrors. He wore his hair like a showgirl and made the teenybopper swoon but he never beat anybody Good. Agassi has outgrown much of a shallow Early image As his game has grown. He andj5ampras have played eight times each has won four. Sampras has the classic serve and Volley style. He tries to impress his opponent Early like a Good fastball Pitcher moving the hitter off the plate. Sampras wears a White shirt and Pale Blue shorts White socks and shoes. He looks the part. He says about the Jeff Tarango Fandango at Wimbledon you try to play this game with some respect and some class it is his image. Agassi looks like he should be drinking a Beer on the Dock in Island Park or Nething he wears a hanging on the cutting Edge beware of Andre Agassi approaching with a Sharp instrument. After winning the . Open last year Agassi won a bet with his coach Brad Gilbert that called for Gilbert to shave his Chest. Agassi had already done that to himself at Wimbledon following his own trend Agassi shaved his head earlier this year. Then two weeks ago Agassi won the right to shave the head of. Tournament director Jim Westhall. After winning at new Haven Conn. Now Gilbert will lose the hair on his head should Agassi win the open again. He s going to shave his head if i win Agassi said. And i m going to. los Angeles times out shirt with Broad stripes of Brown and White and a Black Collar. There Are respectable women who Wear Shorter hemlines than that shirt. His shorts socks and shoes Are Black. The effect makes him look Short legged and Bow legged and As if he ought to be run through a carwash on the court he turns great defense into offence. The times i played him he hit shots that i d never seen anybody hit Sampras said. He is the Best player i think i have played in my those other rivals Borg Mcenroe and Connors would have Hurt their Teeth saying any such thing. There is no reason Why we should hate each other Sampras said. Andre is not the enemy those other Guys would t speak to each other in the locker room. Mcenroe would t stay in the same hotel As Connors. You knew they did t like each other. To. The contrary Sampras and Agassi both play from the Nike stable. They make commercials together you know the one in which they get out. Of a. Taxi set up a net and play in the streets of san Francisco. Mcenroe who knows about tension has said that the absence of real dramatic tension will prevent this rivalry from Ever reaching that level. Said Agassi Well i mean i think John is the kind of Guy that likes a lot of tension in a lot of relationships in his of his history against Agassi Sampras said he stayed Back too much he should have charged More. That s their magnetism. Agassi says it feels Good to be Able to get along to be friends. To be Able to leave it on the court is really what it s All that s sportsmanship True and clean. I just liked it better when the rivals let you know they did t like each other. Give them time. Page 20 beyond the game september 2-8, 1995
