Fuente : Australian Open
http://www.ausopen.org/

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Can Taylor Dent Andre's Open Charge?

/noticias.info/ by Sandra Harwitt
Friday, 21 January, 2005

No. 8 Andre Agassi (USA) vs. No. 29 Taylor Dent (USA)

If Taylor Dent went to bed saying one prayer about his third-round match against Andre Agassi it undoubtedly was to ask for better luck than the past two times they've played at Grand Slam tournaments.

On both previous occasions, Dent was forced to retire from the matches injured - in the first-round of Wimbledon in 2000 and the fourth-round of the US Open in 2003.

What made those retirements even more difficult to swallow for Dent, the son of 1974 Australian Open finalist Phil Dent, was that he was giving Agassi a hard time. He won the first set in both encounters before the momentum swung in Agassi's direction and Dent eventually retired.

They have also played one other time, at the Miami tournament in 2001, and Agassi easily secured that match in straight sets.

Dent has a huge game - a humungous serve and a desire to volley from the net whenever possible. These are assets that make Dent a serious threat every time he steps on the court. But of his own admission, his game currently lacks the consistency necessary to rise to the very top of the rankings

If Dent comes to the court on fire, he could present problems for Agassi. But in the big picture, Agassi is an aggressive baseliner with a wicked return of serve and a great deal of patience.

Agassi will know in the back of his mind that if Dent comes out like gangbusters, it's more than likely he won't be able to keep the momentum going for five sets and he'll have an opportunity to turn things in his own favor.

Agassi was solid in his two opening matches at Australian Open 2005 and that has to give him a lot of confidence as he stares down Dent from across the net.

Just a few months short of his 35th birthday, Agassi knows his playing days are numbered, at least in terms of winning Grand Slam titles. He also knows that he still is playing Top Ten quality tennis while his peers - Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang - are sitting in their retirement easy chairs.

Agassi, who has won the Australian Open four times, flourishes on the Rebound Ace courts, which are tailor made for his game.

Definitely don't dismiss Dent, but it's probably best to bet on 'Double A' to make the fourth-round cut.
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