"When you get out there and feel his game, you can only tip your hat to it" - When Andre Agassi was outclassed by a young Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon
Andre Agassi was left startled by the prowess of a 20-year-old Rafael Nadal when the two faced off against each other at the 2006 Wimbledon.
Agassi bid farewell to Wimbledon in 2006, fifteen years after winning his first ever Grand Slam. After defeating Boris Pashanski and Andreas Seppi in the opening two rounds, the American locked horns with young Nadal in the third round. Agassi was thoroughly outplayed by his opponent in straight sets, as he expressed amazement at the Spaniard's expertise after the match.
During his post-match press conference, Agassi divulged his admiration for the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
"I would have been proud to shake the hand of anybody that beat me, really. Maybe a little bit more him just because of how I've admired him grow as a player. I've seen him since he's been pretty young out there. I've seen him improve," said the 52-year-old.
While the American acknowledged that Nadal was a top talent even just observing him play, his respect for the Spaniard increased considerably after playing against him himself, so much so that he could only think of tipping his hat for the 36-year-old after "feeling his game."
"I've admired this record that I never thought would get beaten, Vilas' wins on clay, the way he's gone after Roger in all their battles. You know, there's just a lot to respect about the guy. Then when you get out there and feel his game, you can only tip your hat to it," Agassi asserted.
Agassi retired from professional tennis the same year after being knocked out of the US Open by Benjamin Becker in the third round. Nadal, on the other hand, went on to reach the final at Wimbledon after defeating Agassi, only to lose to Roger Federer.
"You have to play a good match to beat him, or you have to be Roger on grass" - Andre Agassi on Rafael Nadal
In order to even have a chance of beating Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi reckoned that one had to either put their best game out or simply be "Roger Federer on grass."
After his defeat at the 2006 Wimbledon, the eight-time Grand Slam champion reflected on how Nadal made things tough for him. He admired certain attributes of the 36-year-old's play, like his ability to aggressively take the game to his opponent at the correct moment.
"I really thought that when I hit my quality shot, I could get him behind. He still was moving so well that even on grass he wasn't getting behind. Then all he has to do is hit one shot that's a little bit out of my strike zone, he takes over the point and then doesn't let it go. This is a great way to play tennis, you know. He makes people have to do something special," opined Agassi.
"If people decide to be patient, then he takes it to them. So you have to play a good match to beat him, or you have to be Roger, I mean, on grass.