Agassi does it again and is named PLAYER OF THE DAY...CONGRATS!!!

DAY 4
Agassi has managed to move on past Baghdatis, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, to get closer to what could be his last Grand Slam Title. Agassi struggled throughout the matches but redeemed himself in the fifth set. He wasn't going to go home without a fight. Agassi has been criticized for his age but he still manages to surprise his fans and players and people all over the world. I am glad Agassi is fighting for this title and you can truly see his passion for the game while he plays. GoodLuck Agassi and winning this title would be icing on the cake!


Agassi Keeps Dream Alive, Outlasts Baghdatis
by Neil Schlecht
Thursday, August 31, 2006

Andre Agassi seems to have decided that in his final US Open appearance, he will give his fans their money’s worth—even if that comes at the price of more than a few ulcers and nails bitten down to the quick.

As if his resume weren’t littered with enough epic matches and insane drama, Agassi added another improbable chapter to his storied career, with a thrilling 3-hour, 40-minute, 5-set victory over eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus. Even though this one was only to advance to the 3rd round of the US Open, with no title on the line, it ranks with the greatest of all his victories.

Agassi outlasted Baghdatis, a player 15 years his junior and possessing a ranking 29 spots higher, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5.

Attempting to assess the match’s significance and drama, Agassi said, “It's a whole sort of Jacuzzi of emotions.”

Early on, it looked as though the match would be a blowout for Agassi, who raced to a two-sets-to love lead. With an injection of cortisone propping up the ailing discs in his back, Agassi looked confident and surprisingly energetic, skipping to the sideline after an early break of serve. Throughout the match, he struck the ball cleanly and convincingly. Late in the match, after holding serve at a critical juncture, Agassi jumped up and down on court like his 4-year-old son Jaden Gil.

Baghdatis, a charismatic shot-maker who has rocketed up the rankings in the past year, came back to win the third set and eventually forced a fifth. After falling behind 4-0 in the fourth and looking like he was again out of the match, Baghdatis suddenly began to crack winners and outwit Agassi with dropshots and topspin lobs.

The final set was a classic, with both players slugging it out in long rallies that looked like high-voltage hitting practice and mixing in drop shots to devastating effect. After hitting a lunging volley for a winner to get to 4-4, Baghdatis slumped to the court with leg cramps. He hobbled through the next two games, occasionally slapping winners and even earning four break points on Agassi’s serves.

But two games later, at 5-5, Baghdatis had ceased to limp. Serving at 5-6, Baghdatis held a 40-15 lead and was on the verge of reaching a fifth-set tiebreak, but he committed two double faults to allow Agassi back to deuce.

With the capacity crowd of 23,000 screaming Agassi’s name, their hero broke serve and grabbed the win when Baghdatis hit a backhand over the baseline. The crowd erupted, and on court John McEnroe called it “One of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen.”

Source USOPEN.ORG

THURSDAY's RESULTS

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Lindsay Davenport (USA)[10] def Jelena Kostanic (CRO)
6-0 6-0

2. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2] def Luis Horna (PER)
6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2

3. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Serena Williams (USA) def Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)[17]
7-5 6-3

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Virginie Razzano (FRA) def Martina Hingis (SUI)[8]
6-2 6-4

2. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Andre Agassi (USA) def Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)[8]
6-4 6-4 3-6 5-7 7-5

1. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)[6] def Lauren Albanese (USA)
6-1 6-1

2. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)[2] def Vania King (USA)
6-1 6-2


3. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[15] def Jan Hernych (CZE)
6-4 6-2 6-2


4. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Maria Sharapova (RUS)[3] def Emilie Loit (FRA)
6-0 6-1


5. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA)[1] def Meghann Shaughnessy (USA)
6-4 6-3

6. Men's Doubles - 1st Rnd.
Bob Bryan (USA)[1]/
Mike Bryan (USA)[1]
def Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)/
Andreas Seppi (ITA)
6-1 6-2

1. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Tommy Robredo (ESP)[6] def Hyung-Taik Lee (KOR)
3-6 6-3 6-4 6-1

2. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Elena Dementieva (RUS)[4] def Emma Laine (FIN)
6-4 6-0

3. Men's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Novak Djokovic (SCG)[20] def Mardy Fish (USA)
7-6(5) 6-4 3-6 7-6(3)

4. Women's Singles - 2nd Rnd.
Mary Pierce (FRA)[13] def Eva Birnerova (CZE)
6-3 6-4


5. Women's Doubles - 1st Rnd.
Martina Navratilova (USA)[10]/ Nadia Petrova (RUS)[10] def Lilia Osterloh (USA)/
Ahsha Rolle (USA)
6-1 6-1