Andre Agassi just keeps getting better with age.
The 32-year-old Agassi overwhelmed Rainer Schuettler right from the start and breezed to his fourth Australian Open title 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 yesterday, becoming the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles crown in 31 years.
``There's not a single day that's guaranteed or promised to us, and certainly days like this are very rare,'' Agassi said.
PHOTO: AP
Agassi won his eighth Grand Slam championship. And the victory might also have been enough to lure his wife, Steffi Graf, out of retirement.
Graf backhand
Agassi had said earlier that if he won this tournament, Graf would be his partner for mixed doubles in the French Open.
PHOTO: REUTERS
After the final point, Agassi gave a quick wink into the stands at Graf, who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles before she stopped playing three years ago.
``There's one positive thing: I think everyone's looking forward to the French Open,'' Schuettler said, drawing laughs from Agassi, Graf and the fans.
Agassi was the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Ken Rosewall won the Australian Open in 1972 at 37.
PHOTO: AP
``You never know when it's your last, but I'll never forget being here,'' Agassi told the crowd at the trophy ceremony. ``I'll never forget playing for you. I'll never forget the love and support here. I feel like I'm half Australian.''
Later, he said that trying to get back to No. 1 might be too much of a grind, but ``the year is a complete success for me now. I'm over the moon with it.''
It was a mismatch from the beginning. Agassi sent back Schuettler's first serve back so hard that the German player could only push it long.
Agassi won the first eight points of the match.
When Schuettler finally won a point to start the third game, he raised his hands in mock triumph.
Agassi now has won the Australian Open four of the seven times he has entered.
He also had won in 1995, 2000 and 2001, but injured his wrist on the eve of last year's Australian.
Navratilova's mark
Twenty nine years after winning her first Grand Slam title, Martina Navratilova swept to her 57th yesterday, collecting the only remaining jewel missing from her crown.
The naturalized American teamed up with Leander Paes to win the Australian Open mixed doubles titles, beating Todd Woodbridge and Eleni Daniilidou 6-4 7-5 for the one grand slam title to have eluded her.
Aged 46 years and three months, she also became the oldest Grand Slam champion.
Navratilova easily beat the next oldest woman, Margaret DuPont, who was 44 when she won the 1962 Wimbledon mixed doubles.
As Woodbridge hit the net on match point after 97 gut- wrenching minutes on center court, Navratilova screamed "yes", raised her eyes to the heavens and skipped on the spot.
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