The circle has not been completed–not with one match left between Andre Agassi and his fourth Australian Open title and its fascinating implications. But the difference from a year ago is striking.
Then: hurting. Now: hurting opponents.
Then: question mark. Now: exclamation point.
The divide between then and now has never seemed so vast as it did Thursday, when the second-seeded Agassi defeated 31-year-old Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 in 1 hour 28 minutes in the semifinals of the Aussie. Especially when you consider how much doubt was raised about Agassi’s competitive future when he pulled out of this event last year on the first day because of an injured right wrist.
This will be Agassi’s 14th appearance in a Grand Slam final–he has won seven–and his opponent Sunday will be either No. 9 Andy Roddick or Rainer Schuettler of Germany, who plays Friday.
Agassi, 32, has not lost a match at the Australian Open since a fourth-round defeat against Vince Spadea in 1999.
