PARIS, 26 May 2003 — Records hang in the air, tempting Andre Agassi. Fears lurk, taunting Lleyton Hewitt and an emotional farewell beckons for one of the French Open’s fairy tale characters when the second grand slam of the year slides into action today.
For Agassi, just one more win at the Parisian showpiece will leapfrog him over Mats Wilander in the list of all-time wins on the Roland Garros red clay.
Only Guillermo Vilas, Ivan Lendl, Nicola Pietrangeli and Bjorn Borg have won more matches at the famous arena.
A second-round victory would also draw him level with his arch rival Pete Sampras on 762 career victories — a record for an active player.
A second triumph at the Stade Roland Garros to add to his 1999 win would make Agassi the first man since Jim Courier in 1992 to win the first two grand slams of the year. The American needs his 33-year-old legs to power him around the court like never before if he is to achieve the feat.
Experience should help. “I’m at a place in my career where I have the luxury of using my experience,” Agassi said.
“Most people who have my experience aren’t playing any more. My body is still holding up, my mind is still eager and my heart still wants it.”
Hewitt also “wants it” but knows fear of failure and lack of confidence must be conquered first.
“Maybe I have to work a bit harder on clay,” the top seed said earlier this week. “It’s a challenge and I’ve always liked challenges. Whether I will ever win Roland Garros and master playing on clay, who knows? But I’ll give it a shot.”
One who gave it a great shot and achieved records, is Michael Chang who, in 1989, defeated Stefan Edberg in five sets to become the youngest Roland Garros and grand slam champion at the age of 17 years three months. This year he will make his 16th consecutive appearance at the tournament. It will also be his last.
With an ATP-best 38-8 record in 2003 and lying in second spot behind ATP Champions Race leader Agassi, Roger Federer is in prime position to mount a challenge for his first grand slam title here. The Swiss, who reached the quarterfinals in Paris in 2001, will hope to erase the memory of his first-round loss to Hicham Arazi 12 months ago with a good performance over the next two weeks.
In the women’s draw it is hard to see who can stop Serena Williams. Serena’s elder sister Venus, the Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne and America’s Jennifer Capriati are all ferocious competitors but an in-form Serena is irrepressible.
Certainly the news for the also-rans was not good yesterday. “My fitness is unbelievable right now,” Serena said after a brief practice session on the Parisian clay.
“I just don’t get tired. I’ve been really working on my fitness so I am in really good shape right now — I am happy.
“It feels really great to be back here. I think for me Roland Garros is really, really special. I am very happy to be back.”
Serena’s bid for a fifth straight Grand Slam title had been looking less than certain following recent losses to Justine Henin-Hardenne in Charleston and France’s Amelie Mauresmo in Rome.
But the 21-year-old American said that she always rose to her best in the French capital and had learnt from her mistakes.
“Roland Garros means a lot to me,” said Serena, who gets the ball rolling at 11 a.m. local time on the Philippe Chatrier center court against 87th ranked German Barbara Rittner. “It’s here that I gained my confidence last year. I love clay and as far as I’m concerned it’s not difficult for me to play on this surface.
“I’m in incredible form at the moment and I’ve learned a lot from my defeats in Charleston and Rome. I realized that everyone is out to beat the world number one and I’ve worked on several aspects of my game. I have to just do my best in the early rounds and not lose my concentration.”
Defending men’s champion Albert Costa admitted he felt at home back in Paris, where he won his first Grand Slam title a year ago, despite a recent slump in form.
“Since I’ve arrived in Paris I can’t stop smiling,” said the Spaniard.
“Normally I should feel the pressure, but I don’t. When I played here before I thought about winning the tournament. Now I know I can do it and feel more relaxed.
“If I win my first two matches maybe I can do something, but there are about 20 players who can win,” added Costa, predicting that compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero and 1998 champion Carlos Moya were hot tips along with world number one Lleyton Hewitt.
