Last night I stayed up to watch Andre Agassi's US Open quarter final match. And I am glad I did. He's thirty-five years old. He's got a bum leg. He missed Wimbeldon this year, and has been working his way back to form since.
Last night he went down two sets to none 3-6, 3-6 and then he started coming back. His opponent, Blake, an unranked American, was younger and fitter. Agassi won the next two sets 6-3, 6-3 with resolve, patience and a few, perfect, game-saving shots. They entered the last frame two sets apiece.
Blake immediately took control. The long match was wearing on Agassi, everyone in the Ashe Stadium could see it, and he went down 3-2 and came back to tie it at 4-4. Then Blake got a chance to win it when he went up 5-4. Agassi came back 6-5. Blake tied it.
The tie-breaker went to eight points, back and forth until Agassi finally got his two in a row to end it. The match took fifty-one minutes.
It was a phenomenal performance. I've been rooting for Agassi, who remains the highest ranked American in the tounrament, since the begining, but this is the first time I'd seen him play. After the match Blake told Agassi "It couldn't have been more fun to lose."
And that's why I didn't get much sleep last night.
-t
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