Agassi grabs Mercedes-Benz Cup

Monday, August 3, 1998

Agassi grabs Mercedes-Benz Cup

RESULTS: No. 13 seed redeems embarrassing loss at UCLA last year
by beating No. 12 Henman

By Steve Kim

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

A year ago at the Los Angeles tennis tournament, Andre Agassi
lost in the very first round to a 20-year-old named Justin
Gimelstob. He was dropped from the tournament just as fast as he
came in. It was not to be his.

A day ago, Agassi was named the Mercedes-Benz Cup singles
champion.

He was not about to repeat what happened the year prior.

This time around, he was on from the start and followed through
with a clean sweep.

Agassi breezed past Americans Bob Bryan 6-4, 6-3 and Jan-Michael
Gambill 6-4, 6-4 in the initial rounds. He advanced to beat Aussie
Sandon Stolle 7-6(2), 6-2 and Gimelstob 6-0, 7-6(2) in the quarter
and semi-finals.

In the final match, the No. 13 ranked Agassi beat the No. 12
ranked Tim Henman with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Just as Henman put on some pressure with his 130 mph serves and
smooth, fast returns, Agassi consistently gave back what was
offered to him.

By the end of the second set, Henman gave away too many crucial
points to make a come back.

Sunday’s final was the first time Agassi and Henman competed
each other.

Agassi felt this first encounter made both players hold back on
their game.

"Honestly, I think he didn’t play his best and I certainly know
I didn’t," said the tournament champion. "The first time you’re
playing somebody you’re always feeling them out, and much of the
execution comes from having a certain feel of your opponent."

This match may have not been his best ever, but Agassi is having
a great hard court season this summer, much more so than his last
season.

He hasn’t lost a match since his second-round defeat at
Wimbledon.

Agassi’s latest win marks his 11th straight victory. In those 11
victories, he hasn’t lost a single set.

"He’s playing the most spectacular tennis of his career," Henman
said after the final. "I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that
he was going to come on strong."

With No. 1 man Pete Sampras out of the race due to an operation
on his foot, fifth-ranked Patrick Rafter was favored to win the
tournament.

But he lost out of the quarter-finals to former Bruin and 98th
ranked Gimelstob 6-4, 6-3.

First Agassi, and now Rafter. For Gimelstob, defeating the
top-seeded player at his alma mater was a night to remember.

"You’re here at UCLA at night, in front of a crowd – it was just
great," Gimelstob said. "Playing at UCLA is more fun and relaxing
because there are more friends and family. And I’ve practiced and
played over 70 matches here, so it’s my home court."

Although this was a huge win for Gimelstob, he says he wasn’t
shocked.

"I’m pleased I came through," he said. "I’ve been working hard,
preparing myself and putting myself in position to play in that
kind of match."

It wasn’t a total loss for Rafter, though.

He got to redeem himself with partner Stolle as the doubles
champions. The Australian duo beat out Jeff Tarango and Daniel
Vacek 6-4, 6-4 in the final match.

Another former Bruin, Eric Taino, made it to the Mercedes-Benz
Cup. Taino teamed up with Adam Peterson and made it to the
quarter-finals. They, however, lost in the quarter-finals to
John-Laffnie De Jager and Robbie Koenig 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Seventeenth ranked Goran Ivanisevic, a Wimbeldon finalist, was
denied in the first round by the 56th ranked Frenchman Guillaume
Raoux 6-4, 6-4.

Raoux went on to win the longest match of the tournament against
Kenneth Carlsen, which took two hours and 45 minutes and three set
tie breakers 7-6(7), 6-7(1), 7-6(3).

After a couple of three-set matches, Raoux was eventually
stopped by Henman in a semi-finals match 7-5, 6-3.

With several of the world’s top players, the Mercedes-Benz Cup
drew big attention for itself.

But it also serves as one of several practice tournaments for
these pros heading into the U.S. Open in late August.

As the defending U.S. Open champion, Rafter felt he could
obviously improve before the end of this month.

But he’s not the one to feel apprehensive or doubtful.

"It’s going to come around whether I like it or not," he said.
"So there’s no use to regret going back to a place that’s been so
great in my life. I’ll be going back there feeling really good, and
hopefully, I’ll be at the top of my game."

With another tournament under his belt, Agassi, too, is eyeing
the Open with an intention to continue and improve upon his winning
streak.

"Where I want to be is still kind of open ended," he said.

"I feel I can get really good between now and then but I’d be
happy with playing like this, even. That’s how well I feel.

"I think I can realistically go to the Open with the expectation
of being there the final weekend," he said

DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin

No. 13 seed Andre Agassi won this year’s Mercedes-Benz Cup at
the LATC.