 Andre Stretches |
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 Agassi Focused |
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 The lunging Becker |
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Sunday, September 3, 2006
In tears on match point, the sentimental favorite was eliminated from his 21st consecutive – and final – US Open on Sunday, and it was clear from the first game that the two-time champion Andre Agassi had lost his foot-speed and flexibility.
No matter how hard the lion wanted to fight, his body betrayed him.
Benjamin Becker beat the legend, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5, with serves up to 140mph, strain-inducing drop shots, and forehands that repeatedly stretched Agassi’s backhand into atypical one-handed efforts, particularly in the first three sets.
Hope sprung in the fourth set, but after Agassi failed to hold serve during the critical 11th game, Becker had a chance to serve for the match. The German qualifier who had played for Baylor University seized the chance at 40-0 and served his 27th ace to end Agassi’s career at 2:30pm EST on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Becker called the experience, “like a movie. He was my idol, such a gentleman, and it was a great honor to play him. Whatever the crowd did for him, he deserved it.”
Agassi, ever eloquent – even while sobbing – managed to catch his breath long enough to tell 23,700 spectators on a sky-blue day: “The scoreboard said I lost today. What the scoreboard doesn’t say is how much I’ve won. I found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court and in life. I’ve found inspiration. You’ve willed me to succeed. I’ve found generosity. You’ve allowed me to stand on your shoulders to reach my dreams. And I will take you in my memory for the rest of my life.”
Becker, in his US Open debut, now faces a fourth-round meeting with the winner of No. 9 Andy Roddick and No. 22 Fernando Verdasco of Spain.