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Agassi floating on post-30 success

Not even victory laps in a nearby river can cool off the three-time Australian champ.

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001

MELBOURNE, Australia -- A few hours after winning the Australian Open, Andre Agassi returned to his hotel soaking wet.

Not because of the match -- he hardly broke a sweat in beating Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 Sunday. Agassi celebrated with a private swim, apparently duplicating Jim Courier's dive into the nearby Yarra River after winning the title in 1992 and '93.

"We took a dip," said Agassi's coach, Brad Gilbert, who also was soaked to the skin.

Agassi and Gilbert showed up late for a post-tournament photo shoot and told Jane Fraser, a representative of the International Tennis Federation, the delay was because of an impromptu splashdown.

They wouldn't say where they went, but Fraser said from the looks of them at the hotel earlier -- Gilbert in bare feet, Agassi in a sopping tennis shirt and shorts -- they had hit the river.

With seven Grand Slam titles, Agassi is looking for new ways to mark them. The most naturally gifted baseline basher of his generation gives the impression he's improving with age.

"My best tennis can still be ahead of me," Agassi, 30, said.

Agassi was a celebrity at 18, a Grand Slam finalist at 20 and a Wimbledon champion at 22, so he's not a late bloomer. But on Sunday he joined a rather exclusive club of Grand Slam champions in the 30-and-over division.

Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg, Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe and Mats Wilander never won a major title after turning 30. Neither did Courier or Bjorn Borg, who both retired before reaching the milestone birthday. Ken Rosewall won four Grand Slam titles after turning 30, and Jimmy Connors won two.

But Agassi, who turns 31 in April, shows no signs of a letup. He has won four Grand Slam titles since turning 29.

"You know, a man needs to work," Agassi said, smiling. "If I do this well, I might as well work here."

Projections are always dangerous with Agassi because his career has been so erratic. He won the 2000 Australian Open but didn't win another tournament or reach another Grand Slam final the rest of the year. Injuries and illnesses in his family were factors.

But he believes he can build on his third title at Melbourne Park.

"This is a great steppingstone," Agassi said. "I think I'll be a little smarter this year. After this tournament last year, I felt very tired and physically struggling. This year I don't.

"I think if I really play my cards right, this can be the start of an incredible year."

Agassi has won each of the Grand Slams, and he could win any or all of them again. The next major tournament is the French Open beginning in May. The younger generation -- Gustavo Kuerten, Marat Safin, Magnus Norman, Lleyton Hewitt -- must be reckoned with, and much can happen in the next 31/2 months, but Agassi could arrive at Roland Garros as the favorite.

His experience, baseline power and exceptional fitness are a formidable combination that allows him to wear opponents down. He did it to Patrick Rafter in the semifinal and to the 23-year-old Clement in the final.

"He ripped me apart from the baseline," Clement said. "From the backcourt, nobody in the world could have beaten him today."

He has long been praised as one of the most skilled ball-strikers in history, and his trophy collection reflects his talent.

"I don't self-inflict and throw curves at myself as much anymore," Agassi said.

Agassi's seven major titles put him 10th on the men's list, tied with McEnroe, Wilander, John Newcombe and five others. He moves ahead of Becker and Edberg, who won six major titles each.

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