Andre Agassi (#1) vs. Juan Balcells (Final)
First Meeting
Although heavily favored in this match, Andre Agassi still had some worries facing Juan Balcells for the
first time today. Agassi admitted that he had difficulties adjust to Juan Ignacio Chela's game in their
first career meeting in the quarterfinals. Balcells will certainly give him a different looking game in the final. Balcells, a big
Spaniard at 6'3" 205 pounds, is a big-serving and aggressive serve-and-volley player. But how will
Balcells, nicknamed "Oso" meaning "bear" in Spanish, do against one of the best returners in the game?
Balcells won the toss and elected to receive. Agassi opened with a hold in his opening game as did
Balcells who showed no signs of abandoning his serve-and-volley game against the player he noted as one
of his "idols" in yesterday's press conference. The players continued to hold onto their serves with Balcells
surprisingly showing little of the jitters that each of Agassi's previous opponents showed in the early stages
of matches at this year's tournament. The first break of serve occurred in the sixth game. In an interesting
moment, Balcells won and lost a point on his serve that lead to the break. The Spaniard hit a volley that
landed in but he yelled out after striking it thinking it was going out. Balcells lost the point, since his yell
was deemed a distraction to Agassi. Following that point, Agassi cracked a backhand crosscourt service
return to earn the first lead of day at 4-2. Agassi broke Balcell's again in the either game, to take the first
set in fairly quick fashion at 6-2 in 26 minutes.
Agassi opened the second set with a hold. In Balcell's first service game, the two players engaged in the
point of the match. At 30-0 Balcells, Balcells hit a strong overhead smash. Agassi flicked the racquet up
and was able to get a lob that landed on the baseline. Agassi creeped up to the net while Balcells aimed
another smash directly at Agassi, Agassi again flicked his racquet to near his stomach and the volley hit the
netcord and fell onto Balcell's side of the net. Both players had big-grins and did a quick high-five at the
net as the crowd continued to roar in amazement. Agassi had a chance to earn the first break of the second
set in the fourth game, but Balcells continued to serve big, with two aces, to keep the match on serve at 2-2.
Agassi had two more chances in the tenth game, but the Spaniard hung tough and saved two match points
and ultimately sent the second set to a tiebreak. Here is how the tiebreak unfurled:
A: Agassi hits a forehand volley winner on 5th shot of rally, Agassi 1-0.
B: Balcells serve-and-volley, forehand volley winner, 1-1.
B: Balcells server-and-volley, backhand volley wide, Agassi 2-1.
A: Agassi forehand winner on 5th shot, Agassi 3-1.
A: Balcells follows in service return with a forehand volley winner, Agassi, 3-2.
B: Agassi hits a backhand crosscourt winning service return, Agassi 4-2.
We interrupt this tiebreak for an injury timeout. For the first time in my memory in there was an injury
timeout during a tiebreak. Balcells called out the trainer and had his left thigh sprayed and wrapped
quickly.
B: Backhand service return winner for Agassi, Agassi 5-2.
A: 109-mph ace for Agassi that Balcells did not move to, Agassi 6-2.
A: Backhand winner Agassi, Agassi 7-2.
As expected Agassi wins his fourth Scottsdale title, but much credit to the Spaniard Juan Balcells for giving
the American a tighter match than many expected. Agassi noted that Balcell's high kicking serve was right
up their with the best of those type of servers in the game. Balcell's who said he heard a crack/snap in his
leg said perhaps the match could have turned out differently if he was able to win the second set tiebreak.
All in all, it was an impressive day on court for Agassi: 36 winners to 18 unforced errors, 71% first serve
percentage, won 75% of first serve points and 72% of second serve points, and was 14 of 18 at the net.
After the match, Agassi was presented with a quickly melting chocolate cake to celebrate his 50th career
tournament title. It was also Agassi's 75th appearance in a Tour final. With the victory, Agassi
becomes only one of eight men in the Open era to capture 50 or more titles on the ATP Tour.
In the post-match press conference, one journalist asked if the new dad felt any differently these days when
he heard a baby cry during the match. Agassi just smiled and said that it made him want to track down the
parent and stare them down and ask why they would take a baby to a tennis match. So although it was
reported that Graf and Jaden were with Agassi at Scottsdale this year, there were no signs of either is wife
or son at today's match. He added that he hoped to return to Scottsdale so his son could see (and remember
seeing him play) at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
So thus ends another year's coverage of the two Scottsdale tournaments - the State Farm Women's Tennis
Classic and the Franklin Templeton Men's Tennis Classic. I certainly hoped you enjoyed this year's
reports. Be sure to check back for pictures from this year's tournament later this week.