"He's like a Zen master, an extraordinary human being" - When a mesmerized Barbra Streisand heaped praise on Andre Agassi during the 1992 US Open
In 1992, American tennis legend Andre Agassi found a fan in international superstar Barbra Streisand who attended the US Open to watch the American play. When interviewed during the match, Streisand was all praise for the tennis ace.
Agassi impressed Streisand with his game and won the Wimbledon title in 1992 by defeating Spain's Goran Ivanisevic in the final, 6 (8)-7, 6-4, 6-4, 1-6, 6–4 in a five-set thriller.
The same year, Streisand was seen supporting Agassi in the stands at the US Open during his match against Spaniard Carlos Costa. Agassi won the fourth-round clash in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
Streisand heaped praise on Agassi, noting how he had evolved over the years.
"He is very very intelligent, very sensitive, very evolved you know more than his linear years, he is an extraordinary human being. He plays like a zen master. He's so in the moment," Streisand stated.
During the post-match interview, Agassi was asked what he thought Streisand meant by calling him a 'zen master'. The American joked that he would have to ask her to know what she meant.
"I'm going to have to talk to her about that one," Agassi said.
He went on to state that he was honored that a person of her stature had respect for him and admitted that her comments were the ultimate compliment to him.
"I have always had an unbelievable amount of respect for her. You know that you are a passionate person to do the things that she has done. It's such a great honor to me to think that she feels even some of that for me. That is the ultimate compliment from someone who has accomplished that much," Agassi said.
A look back at Andre Agassi's US Open triumphs in 1994 and 1999
Andre Agassi was victorious at the US Open twice, once in 1994 and then in 1999.
In 1994, Agassi triumphed over Germany's Michael Stich in the final, 6-1, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to clinch the title. This marked the first time an unseeded player won the US Open title in the Open Era.
Between 1994 and 1999 US Open, Agassi won the Australian Open in 1995 and the French Open in 1999. At the US Open, which is the last Grand Slam of the year, Agassi defeated fellow countryman Todd Martin in the final, 6-4, 6 (5)-7, 6 (2)–7, 6–3, 6–2 in a five-set thriller.
The win restored Andre Agassi's World No. 1 ranking as he dethroned Pete Sampras from the top spot.