I can say I was happy to lose against Andre," Agassi and Medvedev revisit their 1999 Roland-Garros final
Present in Paris as a consultant for TNT Sports, Andre Agassi was reunited on the channel's set with Andrei Medvedev, his opponent in the 1999 Roland-Garros final.
At the time, the Las Vegas Kid had claimed his first title on the Parisian clay after two losses in 1990 and 1991, all while coming back from a two-set deficit (1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4). It was a crowning achievement for Agassi, who had thus managed to win all four Grand Slam titles.
26 years later, the two men exchanged lighthearted memories of that unforgettable final.
Agassi: "On a tennis court, you feel like you're on an island. Then you find yourself in the most important moment of your life, with the chance to achieve something you've never done before. And you have this battle hanging in the balance.
Maybe one point or one shot can make the difference. Sometimes, it feels like a matter of luck or fate. But Andrei was one of those players where I could tell myself: 'Damn, but at least he won' (laughs)."
Medvedev: "It’s the same for me. I think there was something magical about it. I knew part of history could be written. If Andre won, he’d complete the career Grand Slam.
If I won, I’d claim the Grand Slam everyone thought I deserved to win. We have mutual respect. Andre saved my career by giving me advice a few months before Roland-Garros during a trip to Monte Carlo. I don’t know if he remembers..."
Agassi: "I remember it perfectly."
Medvedev: "Because of all that, the match was full of emotion. If you’re allowed to say you’re happy to lose against someone, then I’d say I was happy to lose against Andre. Because he’s a guy I respect. The guy who brought so much flavor and color to tennis.
We all respected him. Seeing him complete the career Grand Slam and being part of that moment was a huge honor. Of course, I was disappointed to lose. But when it’s a historic moment and against Andre, then I’m happy to have been part of it.
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